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CARLETON    ISLAND    IN    THE 
REVOLUTION. 

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,:..'  ■ "':     ' 


THE  OLD   FORT 


AND 


It, 


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ITS    BUILDERS. 


With  Notes  and  Brief  Biographical  Sketches. 

By  **'CAKLETON." 

(i.  H.  Durham.^ 

CAPE  VINCENT,   N.  Y. 


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SYRACUSE,    N,    Y.  *. 

C.    W.    BARDEEN,    PUBLISHER. 

1889. 


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Copyright,  1889,  by  J.   H.   Durham. 


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i , 


PREFACE. 


The  object  kept  most  steadily  in  view  during  the 
preparation  of  this  little  volume  for  the  press  has 
been  to  set  at  rest  all  speculation,  of  which  so  much 
has  been  indulged  in,  regarding  the  origin  of  the 
Old  Fort. 

It  is  true,  that  some,  having  the  means  within 
reach,  had  satisfied  themselves;  but  by  far  the  great 
majority  of  those  who  had  visited  the  ruins  knew 
nothing  definite  of  their  origin.  How  far  the  anno- 
tator  of  this  little  work  has  succeeded  in  clearing 
away  the  mists,  which,  in  the  average  mind  hung  over 
them,  he  leaves  to  the  reader  to  determine. 

The  "  old  letters  "  from  which  extracts  are  made, 
or  which  are  printed  in  full,  are  to  be  found  in  the 
possession  of  Hon.  J.  P.  Merritt,  of  St.  Catharines, 
Ontario,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  their  use, 
and  to  whom  he  herewith  renders  his  acknowledge- 
ments, not  only  for  the  privilege  of  copying  them, 
but  for  the  privilege  of  examining  old  French  and 
English  maps  of  the  locality ;— together  with  numer- 
ous volumes  containing  references  to  the  question 

.■   '■  ■■  •      ■  "        ■'    ,  •■  '  ■;  f  ■,  .     ■■'■       '■":"   ■ 


u  . 


VI  PREFACE.  •    ., 

■         • 

under  discussion.  Mr.  Merritt,  himself  a  historian 
of  much  research,  is  Custodian  of  the  Historical  So- 
ciety of  whose  treasures  these  letters  form  a  part. 
In  fact,  a  volume  might  be  made  of  the  correspond- 
ence emanating  from  "Buck,"  "Deer,"  and  "Carle- 
ton  Island," — it  being  known  by  all  of  these  names, 
— from  1774  to  *7^3;  but  only  a  few  were  selected, 
and  only  a  part  of  those  given  in  full.  Several  let- 
ters written  at  Carleton  Island  during  the  above 
mentioned  period,  or  sent  there  from  some  other 
point,  are  now  in  the  writer's  possession.  Of  their 
genuineness  there  is  no  manner  of  doubt;  and  so  far 
as  they  have  been  copied  they  are  given  verbatim. 

The  writer  is  also  indebted  to  the  late  Dr.  Hough's 
History  of  Jefferson  County,  N.  V.,  published  in 
1854;  and  also  to  his  admirable  little  work  entitled 
"  The  Thousand  Islands  of  the  St.  Lawrence,"  pub- 
lished in  1880.  He  also  acknowledges  himself  in- 
debted in  a  large  measure  to  Hadden's  "Journal  and 
Orderly  Books,"  annotated  by  that  able  historian. 
Gen.  Horace  Rogers,  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 
Acknowledgements  have  already  been  expressed  to 
Col.  Wm.  L.  Stone,  the  annotator  of  "Johnson's 
Orderly  Book,"  and  other  valuable  historical  works. 
It  is  but  fair  to  state  however,  that  the  writer  and 
annotator  of  this  work  had  collected  nearly  all  that 
he  has  here  given  some  years  previous  to  being  fav- 


PREFACE,  VIl 

ored  wit!,  a  sight  of  Dr.  Hough's  later  works  or 
Iladden's  "  Jruirnal  and  Orderly  Books."  In  fact, 
a  less  conipreliensive  work  was  prepared  for  the 
press  several  years  ago,  but  was  not  published;  and 
now  in  offering  this  work  to  the  public  it  is  hoped 
that  its  contents  will  not  be  found  wholly  uninter- 
esting. 

The  engravings  in  illustration  ot  the  Old  Fort  are 
from  pen  d'-awings  made  by  Prof.  N.  A.  Wells,  of  the 
University,  and  now  Principal  of  the  School  of  Art. 
Cleveland,  (;.,  from  pencil  sketches  by  the  author. 

THE  ANNOTATOR. 
Cape  Vincent,  N.  Y.,  yiily  8,  1889. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Preface. v 

CHAPTER    I. 

Introductory.      What  orirBRs  have  written  ahout  tt, 

WITH     VARIOUS     SPECILATIONS,    THEORIES,     AND    ASSUMl'- 
TIONS.      A  MINGI.1N«  OF  FACT  AND  FICTION,      NOTES 1 7 

jCHAPTER  II. 

Some  ok  the  statements  and  theories  considered.     Ex- 
tracts FROM   Father    Charlevoix's    letter.      What 

LOSSING  3AYS.      NOTES 32 

CHAPTER  III. 

Links  in  the  chain.     Extracts  from  old  letters.     Mili- 
tary ORDERS  in  '76.     A  model  LETTER  OF  INTRODUCTION. 

Orders  to  a  sea  captain.     Notes 44 

CHAPTER  IV. 
John  Clunes  again.     An  interesting  letter,  and  a  very 
satisfactory  one.      Gen.  Haldimand  writes  to  Lord 
Geokoe  Germaine.    The  question  settled.     Notes..  56 

CHAPTER  V. 

Additional  leiters.     The  armament  of  the  old  fort.    . 
The  number  and  kind  of  guns  mounted  there.   Where 
they  were  taken.    Interesting  official  correspond- 
ence.   Several  items  worth  reading.    Notes 80 

CHAPTER  VL 

More  old  letters,  more  or  less  interesting.     Various 
matters    of  interest  concerning   Carleton   Island. 

l^OTES 98 

CHAPTER  VIL 
Carleton  Island  in   1821-22.      Its  industries  at   that 
time.     Carleton  Island  now,  and  its  prospects  for 

THE  future.    Conclusion 120 

(viii) 


The  Old  Fort,  and  its  Builders. 


(^flAPTER    I. 


JNTKODUi  TORY.       WHAT    OTHERS  HAVE    WRI'l  TEN    ABOUT 

IT.     AVITH     VARIOUS     SPECULATIONH,     THEORIES, 

AND     ASSUMPTIONS.       A     MINGLING     OF 

FACT     AND    FICTION. 


i 


OR  more  than  half  a  century,  the  traveler  on 
the  River  St.  Lawrence  by  way  of  the  Amer- 
ican channel  has  not  failed  to  notice  a  group  of 
stone  chimneys,  standing  on  the  bluff  at  the  head  of 
Carleton  Island.  Inquiry,  or  perchance  an  examina- 
tion, disclosed  the  fact  that  the  greater  portion  of 
these  old  chimney  stacks  stood  within  an  elaborately 
fortified  enclosure,  of  which  the  outlines  are  not 
only  distinct,  but  in  a  degree,  quite  perfect ;  so  much 
so,,that  the  plan  is  readily  determined,  the  system 
identified,  its  armament  adjudged,  its  magazines  and 
barracks  located,  and  in  short,  its  whole  scope, 
object  and  intent,  made  reasonably  plain. 

f^  (17) 


l8  THEORIES    AND    SPECULATIONS. 

The  inquiries  which  naturally  followed  these  ob- 
servations : — When  were  these  elaborate  works  built, 
and  by  whom  ?  What  is  their  history  ?  Where  can 
one  find  an  account  of  them  ?,  remained  unanswered. 
No  one  knew.  The  oldest  inhabitant  of  the  adjoin- 
ing village  of  Cape  Vincent  knew  nothintJ^  of  their 
origin  beyond  the  merest  conjecture;  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact,  that  where  the  "Old  Fort"  stands  is 
the  oldest  settlement  in  his  town.  At  times,  a  little 
ripple  of  interest  would  be  stirred  by  some  news- 
paper article,  or  perchance  a  magazine  writer  would 
■embody  the  local  legends  concerning  it  in  a  reada- 
ble article  and  give  them  to  the  public;  but  after 
all,  it  was  incomplete  and  unsatisfying  to  one  who 
possessed  any  desire  to  delve  into  the  history  of  the 
past,  and  unearth  the  antiquities  of  long  ago. 

That  these  old  ruins  had  not  reached  a  period  when 
they  were  to  be  really  classed  with  antiquities  was 
evident  enough,  but  the  desire  to  know  their  origin, 
-was,  at  least,  akin  to  the  antiquarian  feeling;  and 
hence,  almost  every  one  who  saw  them  became  more 
or  less  possessed  of  a  desire  to  know  more  of  their 
origin.  It  was  astonishing,  too,  that  so  little  was 
known  of  them.  It  was  incomprehensible  how  such 
an  elaborate  work  could  have  drifted  from  out  all 
human  knowledge  save  that  of  conjecture.  But  so  it 
was.     French  and  .English  authors  were  silent  on  the 


UNSATISFIED   CURIOSITY. 

subject,  nor  did  the  archives  of  either  nation  so  far 
as  known,  or  those  of  the  United  States,  throw  any 
certain  light  upon  the  subject.  Even  the  Colonial 
History  of  New  York,  within  the  borders  of  which 
State  the  ruins  are,  failed  to  g^ivc  any  clew;  and  yet 
to  them  the  searcher  naturally  turned  for  information. 

In  view  of  the  mystery  surrounding  the  Old  Fort, 
what  wonder  that  the  people  generally  attributed  to 
them  great  age.''  It  grew  to  be  an  established  fact 
in  the  mind  of  most  people,  that  they  were  erected 
sometime  during  the  last  century;  and  some  went 
back  to  the  time  of  Count  Frontenac  in  1696,  and 
attributed  the  building  to  Capt.  Sieur  du  Luth,  an 
officer  serving  under  that  nobleman;  but  a  careful 
reading  of  Count  Frontenac's  expedition  against  the 
Onondagas',  in  the  last  days  of  July,  1696,  as  found 
in  the  Colonial  History  above  mentioned,  shows  that 
idea  to  be  untenable.  Then,  too,  numerous  relics 
had  been  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort ;  buttons, 
brooches,  and  belt-plates  had  been  plouglied  up ; 
coins  had  been  found;  but  it  was  chiefly  the  num- 
bers and  devices  on  the  buttons  which  seemed  to  set 
at  rest  the  mooted  question  as  to  the  nationality  of 
^  the  troops  who  once  occupied  the  grounds.  These 
were  unmistakably  English.  The  ornaments  found 
were  evidently  portions  of  some  Indian  finery,  and 
proved  nothing;    and  although  most   of  the   coins 


20  THEORIKf    AND    SPECULATIONS. 

found  were  English,  French  coins  were  not  entirely 
wanting,  and  hence  by  these  relics  nothing  was 
proven . 

In  common  vvitii  everyone  else,  the  annotator  of 
this  little  volume,  on  seeing  the  ruins  for  the  first 
time  had  his  curiosity  greatly  aroused  ;  and  like 
everyone  else,  made  many  inquiries,  only  to  experi- 
ence a  disappointment  great  in  proportion  to  his  in- 
tense desire  to  learn  the  secret.  He  did  not  for  a 
moment  believe  chrt  a  work  ot  this  seeming  impor- 
tance, and  costing  the  outlay  in  money  this  must 
have  cost,  garrisoned  as  it  must  have  been,  armed  as 
it  undoubtedly  was,  could  utterly  pass  into  oblivion,, 
leaving  no  record  4n  the  archives  of  the  nation  or 
government  by  whose  orders  it  was  constructed. 
He  not  only  believed  that  there  was  a  record  some- 
where, but  he  determined  to  find  it  if  possible.  A 
fortunate  circumstance  brought  this  about  sooner 
than  he  expected,  and  herein  is  grouped  the  evi- 
dences which  he  firmly  believes  will  satisfy  the  pa- 
tient reader. 

Before  bringing  forward  the  said  evidences,  how- 
ever, it  is  deemed  best  to  lay  before  the  reader  every- 
thing of  importance  that  has  before  been  written  on 
the  subject,  whicli  is  really  but  very  little,  consider- 
ing the  interest  which  it  has  aroused  from  time  to 
time.     No  seeker  after  the  true  history  of  the  Old 


DR.  HOUGH  S    ACCOUNT.  2l 

Fort,  was  more  persistent  in  his  researches  than  the 
late  Dr.  Hough,  of  Lowville;  who  finally  succeeded 
in  solving  the  problem  so  nearly  that  but  little  more 
remained  to  be  done.  In  his  "History  of  Jefferson 
County,  N.  Y."  published  in  1854,  Dr.  Houq^h  gives 
everything  he  had  been  able  to  ascertain  up  to  that 
lime.  That,  and  what  has  been  written  by  two  or 
three  others,  really  pertinent  to  the  question,  will  be 
laid  before  the  reader.  It  is  fair  to  say,  however, 
that  Dr.  Hough,  writing  of  Carleton  Island,  or 
rather  of  the  Old  Fort  in  1854,  and  arjain  thirty  years 
later,  differs  materially.  He  says:  "  The  most  inter- 
esting relics  of  the  olden  time  within  the  county,  are 
the  ruins  of  Fort  Carleton,  on  Carleton  or  Buck*s 
Island,  called  by  the  French  Isle  aux  Cha'reuils,2\iO\xi 
three  miles  from  Cape  Vincent,  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  south  channel  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  island 
when  first  discovered  by  our  settlers,  was  partly 
cleared  :  it  has  an  undulating  surface,  is  composed 
of  Trenton  limestone  and  is  very  fertile. 

''The  surface  near  its  head,  where  the  fort  is  situ- 
ated, rises  by  an  easy  grade  to  a  spacious  plain  fifty 
feet  above  the  river,  which  was  precipitous  in  front, 
and  overlooked  a  small  peninsula  but  little  elevated 
above  the  water,  and  affording  on  each  side  of  the 
isthmus  safe  and  ample  coves  for  the  anchorage  of 
boats.  On  a  point  of  this  land  the  government  is 
about  to  construct  a  lighthouse.^ 


22  THEORIES   AND   SPECULATIONS. 

"The area  under  the  hill  was  completely  protected 
by  the  works  on  the  heights  above,  and  from  its  great 
fertility  afforded  an  abundance  of  culinary  vegetables 
for  the  garrison.  Traces  occur  showing  that  can- 
non were  planted  on  conspicuous  points,  and  the 
trace  of  a  submerged  wharf  is  still  seen,  as  are  also 
wrecks  of  vessels  in  the  bottom  of  the  river  adjacent. 
In  the  rear  of  the  works  may  be  seen  the  cemetery  •,. 
but  time  has  defaced  the  inscriptions  upon  the  head- 
stones, except  the  following:  '•y,  Farrar^  D.  F'J 
1792.'* 

"  Forty  years  ago.  carved  oaken  planks  were  stand- 
ing at  many  of  the  graves.  Several  chimneys  occur 
outside  of  the  intrenchment  and  on  the  peninsula  in 
front  of  the  fort.  About  a  dozen  still  stand  within 
the  works,  which  are  built  of  stone,  in  a  permanent 
and  massive  manner,  the  flues  being  very  small,  a".d 
the  bases  enlarged  and  well  founded.  Near  t.ie 
brow  of  the  hill  is  a  circular  well  about  ten  feet  in 
diameter,  and  supposed  to  be  at  least  as  deep  as  the 
level  of  the  river,  but  being  partly  filled  with  rubbish, 
this  could  not  be  determined.  Here  are  also  exca- 
vations supposed  to  be  for  magazines, 

"  Tlie  plan  of  the  fort  shows  it  to  he  after  the  sys- 
tem of  Vauban,2  and  forms  three-eightlis  of  a  circle 
of  about  800  feet  diameter;  the  abrupt  face  of  the  hill, 

*  [Even  this  has  long  since  disappeared.— Ed,] 


DR.    hough's   account.  23 

which  was  doubtless  protected  by  a  stockade  not 
requiring  those  defences  which  were  furnished  to 
the  rear.  The  ditch  is  excavated  in  rock,  is  4  feet 
deep,  and  22  feet  wide.  The  covered  way  is  24  feet 
wide,  the  counterscarp  vertical,  the  outer  parapet  4 
feet  high,  and  the  glacis  formed  of  materials  taken 
from  the  di*-ch. 

"The  rampart   within  the  ditch,  was  of  earth,  and 
is  very  much  dilapidated.     Ravelins  were   made  be- 
fore each  re-entrant  angle,  and  at  the  alternlate  salient 
angles,  bastions  were  so  placed  as  to  command  the 
fort   and  its   various    approaches    very    effectually. 
]^o  knowledge  is  derived  from  settlers  of  the  charac- 
ter, the  work,  or  the  number  or  size  uf  the  enclosed 
buildings,   except   that   a   range   of   wooden   block- 
houses within  the  intrenchment  was  occupied  by  a 
corporal's  guard,  and  a  few  invalids.     The  premises 
had   fallen    into    decay,   and.  were  entirely    without 
defensive  works;  a  few  iron   cannon   were  lying  on 
the  beach  or  under  water  near  the  shore,  and  the 
gates    had  been  robbed  of  their  hinges  for  the  iron, 
which  had  been  pawned  by  the  soldiers.     The  prem- 
ises have  at  all  times  furnished  a  great  abundance  of 
relics  among  which  were  coins,  buttons,  etc.,  whose 
inscriptions  and  devices  without  exception  indicate 
an  English  origin,  and  a  period  not  earlier  than  the 
French  war.     The  figures,  60,  K,  8,  V,  IX,  34,  22,  29, 


24  THKORIES    AND    SPECULATIONS. 

84,  21,  31,  etc.,  which  occur  on  the  buttons  found, 
often  accompanied  by  the  devices  of  the  thistle, 
anchor,  etc.,  doubtless  designated  the  regiments  to 
which  their  wearers  belonged. 

"On  the  declaraticn  ot  war,  the  guard  was  sur- 
prised and  captured  without  resistence;  the  build- 
ings burned,  and  never  after  used  as  a  fort.  The 
state  reserved  the  island  for  its  supposed  importance 
^  in  a  military  point  of  view  in  their  sale  to  Macomb.  In 
1796,  the  surveyors  of  this  purchase  found  a  corporal 
and  three  men  in  chargp,  and  there  were  four  long 
twelve-,  and  two  six-pound  cannbn  mounted.  But 
little  is  said  by  historians  and  travellers  of  this  place, 
as  it  appears  never  to  have  been  the  theater  of  events 
that  gave  interest  to  the  former,  and  was  not  in  the 
channel  commonly  taken  by  regular  vessels,  and 
therefore  seldom  visited  by  the  latter. 

"The  Duke  de  la  Rochefoucauld  Liancourt  men- 
tions it  as  follows  :  *  During  the  American  war,  the 
British  troops  were  constantly  in  motion,  and  in 
later  times  they  were  quartered  in  an  island  which 
the  French  call  Isle  aux  C/ievt-reaux,^  and  which  the 
English  have  named  Carleton,  after  Lord  Dorches- 
ter.' The  island  had  been  known  to  the  French  by 
this  name  from  an  early  period,  and  it  is  mentioned 
as  one  of  the  stopping  places  of  Count  Frontenac  in 
his  expedition   against  the  Onondagas,  as  follows  : 


DR.    hough's    account.  t$ 

*  On  the  26th  [July,  1696],  they  took  their  departure, 
and  encamped  at  Deer  Island  (^Isle  aux  Chevreuils^; 
the  scouts  marching  continually  ahead  of  the  army. 
Sieur  de  Luth,  captain,  was  left  in  the  fort  f^FVonte- 
nac  jas  commandant,  with  agarrisonof  forty  men, and 
masons  and  carpenters  necessary  for  the  buildinjg:s 
which  he  was  recommended  to  hasten.  There  re- 
mained only  twenty-six  sick  in  the  fort,  most  of  whom 
were  wounded  in  the  legs  ascending  the  rapids.  On 
the  27th  they  got  to  within  three  leagues  of  the  /^tv- 
iere  de  hi  Famine  [Black  River]  and  on  the  28th  to  the 
mouth  of  that  of  Onnontague.' 

"  This  station  was  used  by  the  English  during  and 
after  the  revolution,  and  garrisoned  by  invalid  troops. 
It  was  an  important  post,  as  it  commanded  the  navi- 
gation of  the  south  channel  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
while  Kingston  controlled  the  other.  Although  the 
French  had  ceased  to  command  in  Canada,  yet  their 
memory  was  cherished  with  affection  by  the  savages, 
who  continued  to  receive  presents  and  be  influenced 
by  the  French  in  Louisiana  and  their  western  posts. 
Policy,  therefore,  dictated  that  this  place  should  be 
kept  up  against  any  time  of  danger  that  might  arise. 
Having  carefully  examined  every  author  within 
reach,  both  English  and  French,  we  have  been  un- 
able to  ascertain  the  precise  time  of  the  erection  of 
this  fort.     It  certainly  did  not  exist  before  1758,  as  it 


26  THEORIES    AND    SPECULATIONS. 

does  not  occur  in  any  of  tlie  lists  of  stations  previous 
to-that  period." 

In  conclusion,  Dr.  Hough  .refers  to  a  manuscript 
document  preserved  in  the  archives  of  Albany,  which 
he  thinks  "throws  light  upon  tlie  subject."  This 
manuscript,  it  appears,  was  drawn  up  in  November, 
1758,  by  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  then  governor  of 
Canada,  on  the  defenses  of  that  country,  and  which 
was  submitted  to  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm  who 
gave  it  his  approval.  It  was  to  the  effect  that  a  force 
of  1500  men  should  be  sent  to  erect  a  post  at  the 
head  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  after  the  plans  of  M.  de 
Fontleroy,  a  distinguished  military  engineer  of  tliat 
period,  was  to  be  the  center  of  military  operations 
instead  of  Frontenac,  or  any  one  of  that  group  of 
islands  lying  in  the  Bay  of  Niohoure,'*  to  the  right 
of  the  entrance  to  the  St.  Lawrence  river;  because 
the  English  might  enter  the  St.  Lawrence  without 
being  seen  from  those  places.' 

It  was  to  be  an  extensive  work  susceptible  of  de- 
fense by  an  army;  a  fleet  was  to  be  built,  and  in 
short,  it  was  to  become  the  grand  military  and  naval 
rendezvous  for  the  wliole  frontier.  The  Clievalier 
de  Levy,  one  of  the  most  efficient  military  engineers 


*  The  Bay  of  "  Nidhoure,"  called  also  "Niauern,"  and  "Nivernoia,"  em- 
braced Tsle  aux  Chevereuils  [Roebuck]  now  Grenadier,  and  llKnard  [Fox] 
islands,  and  all  that  group  of  islands  lying  to  the  right  as  one  sails  from  Os- 
"  wego  to  the  entrance  of  the  St.  Lawrence. — Ed. 


vaudreuil's  project.  37" 

of  his  time,  was  to  take  charge  ot  the  work.  There 
are,  however,  no  records  to  show  that  such  a  work 
was  ever  begun,  and  it  is  highly  improbable  that  the 
matter  ever  went  farther  than  the  Marquis  de  Vau- 
dreuil's able  paper,  and  Montcalm's 'entire  approval.' 
Certainly  Carleton  Island  could  not  have  been  chosen, 
because  it  fails  to  answer  the  requirements;  and  in 
fact  there  is  no  single  point  "at  the  head  of  the  St. 
Lawrence,"  which  commands  both  channels,  or 
which  would  answer  all  the  specifications  of  the 
Marquis  de  Vaudreuil's  paper;  and  it  is  extremely 
probable  that  a  thorough  examination  showed  this 
to  be  the  fact,  and  hence  the  project  was  abandoned. 
Besides  this,  had  a  work  of  such  extent  and  impor- 
tance been  completed,  it  would  have  inevitably 
superseded  Frontenac,  as  was,  indeed,  intended;  and 
would  have  become  a  place  of  so  much  impor- 
tance, that  its  history  could  never  have  been  so 
entirelylost  sight  ot,  as  it  seems  that  of  the  supposed 
French  fort  on  Carleton  Island  has  been.  Before 
entering  upon  a  brief  analysis  of  the  various  hypoth- 
eses advanced  by  different  writers  upon  the  origin  of 
the  Old  Fort,  and  of  the  authorities  upon  which  they 
are  based,  we  will  give  an  extract  from  a  foot  note 
on  page  64  of  "Johnson's  Orderly  Book,"  a  most 
ably  annotated,  and  intensely  interesting  history  of 
the  expedition  against  Fort  Stanwix  [Rome],  in  1777, 


2$  THKORIES    AND    SI'ECULATIONS. 

commanded  by  St.  Leger.  The  annotator,  Col.  Wil- 
liam L.  Stone,  is  the  author  and  editor  of  several  in- 
teresting and  valuable  contributions  to  American 
history,  and  on  the  subject  of  Carleton  Island  he 
writes  as  follows : 

"  In  passing  on  the  steamboat  down  the  St.  Law- 
rence river  from  Cape  Vincent,  the  tourist  will 
observe  a  number  oi  stacks  of  old  brick  chimneys, 
[stone  chimneys]  standing  near  the  shore  upon  the 
left  side,  which  are  upon  'Buck  Island  '  The  in- 
habitants near  it  have  always  affected  ai^reat  mystery 
in  regard  to  these  fortifications,  but,  in  truth,  there  is 
no  mystery  about  them.  Bouchette,  in  his  History  of 
Canada,  published  in  1815,  states  that  Carleton  Island 
was  converted  into  a  large  magazine  or  depot  for 
military  supplies  and  a  general  rendezvous  in  1774- 
75,  by  the  British  government,  in  anticipation  of 
trouble  with  her  American  colonies.  We  should 
infer,  even  if  Rochefoucault  de  Liancourt  did  not  say 
so  expressly,  that  the  name  of  the  island  was  changed 
to  Carleton  in  honor  of  that  general,  who  was  then  in 
command  of  Canada,  The  stacks  of  chimneys  still 
to  be  seen,  are  probably  the  remains  of  those 'ovens  ' 
to  which  the  Orderly  Book  refers,  in  which  the 
bread  for  the  troops  was  baked.  The  English  gov- 
ernment reserved  this  island  in  its  sale  to  Macomb ; 
and,    in    1796,   a   corporal   and   three   men   were  in 


COL.  stone's  account.  29- 

charge.  The  island,  however,  had  evidently  been 
fortified  by  the  French  many  years  before  1774,  the 
time  spoken  of  by  Bouchette;  for  Count  Frontenac 
mentions  it  as  one  of  his  stopping-places  in  1696,  in 
his  expedition  against  the  Onondagas,  at  which  time 
Captain  dn  Luth  was  left  on  tiie  island  with  a  garri- 
son of  forty  men,  masons,  etc.,  with  orders  to  '  com- 
plete tlie  fort.'  "  In  the  opening  of  the  next  chapter 
the  reader's  attention  is  called  to  a  brief  review  of 
Col.  Stone's  inaccuracies. 

'  [.\s  an  evidence  of  the  promptness  and  rapidity  with  wliich 
governments  attend  to  those  things  which  are  really  beneficial  to 
a  large  class  of  a  community,  and  also  where  great  interests  are 
involved,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  "lighthouse  about  to  be  con- 
structed "  at  that  time — 1853 — is  not  yet  begun  ;  nor  is  there  any 
greater  evidence  to  show  that  it  wi'l  ever  be  built,  than  there  was 
.It  that  time. — Ed.  J 

'  [The  system  or  rather  systems  on  which  the  Old  Fort  is  con- 
structed are  Vauban's  "Third  System"  modified  by  Cormon- 
laignc's,  with  here  and  there  a  trace  of  curious  clinging  to  the 
"Old  English  system."  An  accurate  plan  of  the  Fort  correctly 
drawn  from  recent  surveys,  and  a  full  description  will  be  found 
elsewhere. — Eu.] 

*  Francois  Alexandre  La  Rochefoucauld  Liancourt,  a  French 
Duke,  and  a  distinguished  philanthropist,  was  born  in  1747,  and 
died  in  1827.     [Hough's  "Thousand  Islands,"  page  117.] 

Rochefoucauld  Liancourt,  because  of  his  adherence  to  the 
fortunes  of  Louis  XVI.  was  forced  to  fly  from  France  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  French   Revolution,   and   spent  several  years  in. 


30  THEORIES    AND    SPECULATIONS. 

England  and  America.  His  notes  of  voyages  and  iravel  in 
America  from  1795  until  nearly  the  close  of  1797,  possess  much 
interest,  especially  those  portions  which  relate  to  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  the  country  adjacent.  Speaking  of  Kingston,  and  inci- 
dentally of  Carleton  Island,  he  says:  "The  barracks  are  built 
on  the  site  of  Fort  Frontenac,  whfch  was  built  by  the  Frencli  and 
leveled  by  the  English.  The  latter  built  these  barracks  about 
six  years  ago.*  During  the  American  vva;  their  troops  were 
constantly  in  motion  ;  and  in  later  limes  they  were  quartered  on 
an  island  which  the  French  call  hie  aux  Ghevereux,  [Goat  Island] 
and  the  English  have  r.amed  'Carleton,'  after  Lord  Dorches- 
ter.'"f 

In  another  reference  to  Carleton  Island,  the  distinguished  au- 
thor says: 

"The   celebrated   Jemima   Wilkinson. if  thought  of  removing 


*  [Tlris  account  was  written  in  17!>5,  and  hence  the  barracks  at  Kingston 
were  erected  in  178'J;  about  the  time  of  the  partial  evacuation  of  Fort  Hal- 
dimand,  on  Carleton  Island.— Er.]  / 

t  [This  statement,  already  quoted  in  the  foregoing  chapter,  is  conclusive 
evidence  that  in  calling  it  "  Buck  Island,"  and  "  Deer  Island,''  the  English 
made  an  error,  probably  through  a  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  French  Ian 
guage,  or  a  misunderstanding  as  to  the  name  used.  A  careless  listener 
might  easily  mistake  Chfvereaiu-  for  Chevreiiib-.  Even  Sir  Frederick 
Italdimard  himself,  Cii!l.«<  it  Chei'frcn^s.  However  the  error  can\e  about,  as 
no  occasion  arose  which  seemed  to  make  its  correction  necessary  it  was  per. 
petuated,  and  thus  gave  rise  to  many  incorrect  statements,  surmises  and 
speculations,  besides  leading  map-makers  astray  and  puzzling  historians. 
This  error  pointed  out,  the  rest  becomes  plain.— Kn.J 

I  The  following  account  of  Jemima  Wilkinson,  gives  us  reason  to  rejoice 
that  Carleton  Island  did  not  become  the  scene  of  her  exploits,  nor  the  home 
of  her  community. 

"  The  notorio\i8  Jemima  Wilkinson  was  born  In  Cumberland,  Khode 
Island,  in  1753,  and  died  at  Jerusalem,  Yates  county,  N.  Y.,  July  Ist,  1819 
She  was  educated  as  a  Quaker,  but  finally  became  a  pronounced  fanatic. 


NOTES   AND    COMMENTS.  ,, 

her  family  and  es,ab„sh„.en.  fro™  Bluff  Poin,  on  Crooked  Lake. 
N^  v.,  and  „,se„li„8o„  Carle.on  Island  on  .he  Lake  Ontario, 
where  she  would  enjoy  ,he  sa.isfacion  oflivin,-  under  ,he  E„g. 

IrLon::;:"''  "'"■  '^ "-  —'■  ^»^  -°-- ""' 

Sh'r"  "'""""""  ""■'"■"<'■»""  >■""«'■"'•<  ...  work    ,„r„* 
'   She  gamed  man V  followora  -m.M.^n*!,  ,  J"'raci(S. 

upon  .,„  sb..er  .loot'ri,.,  „f"e  C       S  '"  t        '°'"~"""' """""« 

Friends    a.,,1  „„.  „  °"""'''-'°i'-    ^"o  »»""Md  the  n«,„e  of  Uuirersol 


CHAPTER    II, 


SOME    OF    THE    STATEMKNTS    AND  THEORIES  CONSIDERED. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  FATHER  CHARLEVOIX's  LETTER. 

WHAT    LOSSING    SAYS. 


N  the  extract  which  closes  the  previous  chap- 
ter, Col.  Stone,  contrary  to  all  his  previous 
records,  has  indulged  in  S(jmething  closely  akin  to 
careless^writing;  or,  at  all  events,  he  has  not  shown 
that  perspicacity  so  plainly  discoverable  in  his  writ- 
ings generally.  As  we  have  already  hinted,  the  chim- 
neys were  built  of  stone;  and  from  the  fact  that  each 
chimney  had  double  flues,  and  an  ample  fire  place  on 
opposite  sides  of  its  broad  base,  the  conclusion  is  eas- 
ily arrived  at,  that  they  were  better  calculated  for 
heating  barracks  than  baking  bread.  That  this  is 
what'thej'^  were  built  for  is  well  known  from  the  fact 
that  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812,  a  party  of 
Americans  captured  the  places  and  burned  the  bar- 
racks ;  leaving  nothing  to  mark  the  place  where  they 

stood  excepting  the  chimney  stacks.^     Besides,  who- 

(33) 


COUNT  FRONTKNAC'S  THEORY.  :^^ 

ev€r  remembers  the  old  "  Dutch  "  oven  of  our  grand- 
mother's days,  will  see  at  once  that  it  did  not  need  a 
chimney  two  and  a  half  feet  square  and  twenty  feet 
high  to  serve  as  a  flue.  Three  or  four  piles  of  brick 
rubbish  in  different  parts  of  the  grounds  in  and 
around  the  Old  Fort,  clearly  indicate  the  number  of 
ovens  there;  and  three  good-sized  ovens  were  amply 
suflficient  to  bake  bread  for  double  St.  Leger's  entire 
force;  while  there  were  at  one  time  over  twenty  huge 
chimney  stacks  standing.  The  oven  theory  is  un- 
tenable. 

Now  let  us  examine  the  Count  Frontcnac  theory, 
briefly.  It  rests  on  an  error,  and  that  error  was 
made  by  the  English.  The  truth  is,  that  the  French 
never  named  the  island  /sk  aux  Chevrcuils,  but  the 
English  supposed  they  did,  and  hence  they  first  called 
it  "  Buck  Island,"  and  afterward  "Deer  Island."  The 
French  named  the  island  Isle  aux  C/tcvereaux,  [Goat 
Island],  and  the  iifland  at  the  head  of  the  river  now 
know  as  "  Grenadier  Island"  was  the  one  named 
Isle  aux  Chevreuils  [Roe-buck  Island].  This  being 
the  fact,  Count  Frontenac's  statement  is  easily  under- 
stood. His  army  started  from  Frontenac  (Kingston) 
to  reach  the  mouth  of  the  river  where  Oswego  now 
stands.  They  "encamped  at  '  Deer  Island'  (Isle  aux 
Chcvreuils^y  [now  Grenadier  Island.]  Of  course 
thev   did.      It    is    directly   on    their   route.      Count 


34  CONSIDERATION    OP    THEORIES. 

Frontenac  would  not  have  traveled  twentv  miles  out 
of  his  way  for  the  sake  of  encamping  one  night, 
while  there  were  so  many  available  islands  along  his 
line  of  march.  This  was  on  the  26th  of  July,  1696. 
'*  On  the  27th,  they  got  within  three  leagues  of  ^n- 
iere  de  la  Famine.'"  [Black  River.  |  The  enclosure  in 
brackets  is  Dr.  Hough's,  and  is  evidently  an  error; 
because  in  another  place  he  says  that  the  old  French 
maps  locate  Famine  river  "inside  of  Six  Town 
Point,"  which  Point  is  several  miles  from  Black 
river.  In  examining  a  copy  of  Sauthier's  map,*  en- 
graved in  London  in  1779,  showing  the  location  of 
F*amine  river,  the  fact  becomes  evident  that  Sandy 
Creek,  in  the  town  of  EUisburg,  is  the  stream  meant.* 

Had  the  second  day's  march  begun  at  Carleton 
Island  they  could  easily  have  reached  Famine  River, 
had  Black  River  been  the  locality  so  known;  but 
they  only  got  to  within  "three  leagues  "  of  it,  and 
the  "  next  day,"  the  28th,  they  "  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Onontague*'  This  they  could  not  have  done, 
starting  from  Black  River  and  coasting  all  the  way, 
as  in  those  days  they  were  obliged  to  do.  But  start- 
ing from  Grenadier  Island,  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  they  could  easily  reach  a  point  within  three 
leagues  of  Sandy  Creek,  and  their  destination  the 

next  day. 

-  —  ■  '■    < 

♦  [Dr.  Hough  himself  inclined  to  thii  opinion  in  after  years.— Ed,] 


COUNT  FRONTRNAC'S  THEORY.  35 

There  is  now  but  little  doubt  as  to  the  correctness 
of  locating  "Famine  Island"  and  "Hungry  Bay" 
at  Sandy  Creek,  while  the  theory  held  at  one  time  by 
many,  that  Henderson  Bay  was  the  locality  known  as 
"  Hungry  Bay,"  is  no  longer  advocated. 

Another  fact,  which  has  been  overlooked  by  most 
writers  upon  this  subject,  is  this.  Black  River  Bay 
was  known  on  the  old  French  maps  as  the  "  Bay  of 
Niohoure  "  or  "  Nivernois,"  and  embraced  in  its  ex- 
tent all  the  islands  lying  in  that  part  of  Lake  Ontario. 
Now  some  of  those  old  maps  show  clearly  that  Isle 
aux  Chevreuil  lies  in  Nivernois  Bay.  Dr.  Hough,  on 
page  ii6,  History  of  Jefferson  County,  1854,  relates 
that  *' One  Patrick  Colquhoun,"  in  a  letter  to  \Vm. 
Constable  (^vvho  at  that  time  held  an  interest  in  the 
Macomb  purchase^ — dated  London,  June  4th,  1792, 
made  a  proposition  to  purchase  several  islands  lying 
near  the  confluence  of  the  lake  and  the  river,  and  also 
in  "Nivernois  Bay;  "among  which  he  named  C7/^z'- 
ruelle^  or  Roebuck  Island^  and  Renard^  or  Fox  Island. 
'  Dr.  Hough  further  remarks  in  a  foot  note  on  the 
same  page,  that  "he  "  f Colquhoun j  "  supposed  that 
it  was  Carleton  island  which  was  embodied  in  the  con- 
tract." This  supposition  is  a  gratuitous  one,  from 
the  fact  that  the  islands,  '-'•Roe-buck''  and  ^^ Fox''  are 
-contiguous,  and  within  the  supposed  limits  of  "  Niv- 
■ernois   Bay,"   while   Carleton    Island   is   nearly,   or 


36  CONSIDERATION    OF    THEORIES. 

quite,  ten  miles  down  the  river,  and  beyond  any  such 
"  supposition." 

Col.  Stone  is  also  in  error  when  he  says:  "The 
English  government  reserved  this  island  in  its  sale 
to  Macomb."  Macomb's  purchase  was  made  from 
the  land  commissioners  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  included  the  "islands  in  Lake  Ontario  and  the 
St.  Lawrence  river,  fronting  the  purchase;  excepting 
Carleton  and  Long  Sault  islands,"  which  were  re- 
served by  the  State.  We  think  that  it  may  be  fairly 
conceded  that  the  error  was  made  by  the  English  in 
naming  the  wrong  island  "  Buck  "  or  *'  Deer  "  island  ; 
and  from  that  mistake  much  misapprehension  has 
arisen.  Later  on,  however,  we  shall  bring  one  more 
bit  of  testimony  to  bear  on  this  point.  As  a  sort  of 
corroborative  testimony,  as  well  as  from  its  general 
interest  we  take  the  liberty  to  introduce  here  some 
extracts  from  Father  Charlevoix's  letter  to  the 
Dutchess  of  Lesdiguieres,  dated  at  the  "  Bay  of 
Famine,  16th  May,  1721."  Father  Charlevoix  was  a 
Jesuit  Father  who  visited  the  French  colonies  of* 
North  America  by  order  of  the  French  King  in  1720 
and  1721.  He  writes :  "I  embarked  on  the  14th,  at 
precisely  the  same  hour  that  I  had  arrived  at  the  town 
of  Catarocouis*     I  had  but  six  leagues  to  go,  to  gain 


*  [Afterward  named  Froiiteuac,  and  now  Kingston.— Ed. 


FAiHER  Charlevoix's  letter.  37 

'the  Isle  aux  C/ievreutls,*  where  there  is  a  fine  port, 
which  can  receive  large  barques  ;f  but  my  Canadians 
had  not  visited  their  canoe,  off  which  the  sun  had 
melted  the  pitch  in  many  places,  so  that  it  let  in 
water  at  every  point,  and  we  were  compelled  to  lose 
nearly  two  hours  for  repairs  in  one  of  the  islands  at 
the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario.  We  sailed  thence  at  ten 
.o'clock  in  the  morning,  without  being  able  to  reach 
Isle  au  Chevreuil,  and  were  forced  to  spend  the  night 
very  unpleasantly.  *  *  *  \  jgft  yesterday  at  an 
early  hour,  and  at  eleven  in  the  morning  stopped  at 
the  Galloo  Islands,  three  leagues  from  Deer  Island, 
at  43^  degrees  of  latitude.  I  re-embarked  a  little 
after  noon  and  accomplished  a  voyage  of  a  league 
and  a  half  to  reach  Poi?it  de  la  Traverse  ;  If  I  had 
coasted  along  the  main  land  to  this  place,  from  where 
I  passed  the  night,  I  should  have  had  more  than  forty 
leagues  to  make,  and  should  have  been  obliged  to 
take  this  course  had  not  the  lake  been  calm ;  for 
when  it  is  agitated,  the  waves  are  as  great  as  on  the 
open  sea.  It  is  not  even  possible  to  coast  along  when 
the  wind  is  blowing  off  the  shore. J  From  the  point 
of  Galloo   Islands  we  can  see  to  the  west  the  river 


*  [Observe,  that  Carleton  Island  ii  nine  leagues  by  water  from  "  Fronte- 
nac,"  while  Gronadier  Island  is  but  the  "six  leagues"  mentioned  by  Charle- 
voix, and  is  also  his  "three  leagues  from  the  "  Qalloo  Islands."— Ed.] 

t  [Basin  Harbor,  Grenarlier  Island.— Ed.] 

%  [Evidently  an  error.    On  shore  was  no  doubt  meant.— Ed.] 


38  CONSIDERATION    OF    THEORIES. 

Choiioguen^  otherwise  called  the   Ononta}:;ite^  which  is 
distant  fourteen   leagues.     As  the  lake  was  tranquil 
with  no  appearance  of  foul   weather,  and  a  gentle 
breeze    was    blowing   from    the   east   which    barely 
filled    our   sail,   I   resolved  to    steer   direct   for   this 
river   with   the    view   of    saving   fifteen    or    twenty 
leagues  of  circuit.     My  attendants,  more  experienced 
than  I,  deemed  the  attempt  hazardous,  but  in  complais- 
ance yielded  to  my  advice.     *     *     *      \Ve  steered  off 
then    large,  and  in   four  hours  found  ourselves  in  a 
place  we  repented  ;  for  the  wind  arose  suddenly,  and 
we   heartily  wished  ourselves   near  the  shore.     We 
turned  toward  the  nearest,  from  which  we  were  still 
three  leagues  distant,  and   had    much   difficulty    in 
reaching  it.     At  length  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing, we  landed  in  the  BayofFajubie^  thus  named  from 
the    Marquis   de  la  Barre,  the  governor  general  of 
New   France,   losing  nearly   all  his  army  by  hunger 
and   sickness,  in  going  to  war  with  the  Iroquois," 
*    *     *     These  extracts  need  no  comment. 

Lossing,  in  his  "  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution  " 
makes  no  mention  whatever  of  the  Old  Fort  at 
Carleton  Island;  but  in  his  *•  Field  Book  of  the  War 
of  1812,"  after  hav'ng  spent  a  couple  of  hours  per- 
haps, in  a  personal  inspection  of  the  ruins,  he  jumps 
at  the  following  conclusion.  "  The  English  found  it 
quite  a  strongly  fortified  post  at  the  conquest  of  Can- 


lossing's  conclusion.  39 

ada,  at  a  little  past  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  and 
perceiving  its  value  in  a  military  point  of  view 
fjfor  it  commands  the  main  channel  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence^, they  greatly  strengthened  it."  [Sec  "  Los- 
sing's  Field  Book  of  the  War  of  i8i2,"P.s69.]  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  the  above  statement,  unsupported 
as  it  is,  by  any  evidence  whatever,  is  pure  assump- 
tion. There  is  no  proof  whatever,  that  the  French 
ever  occupied  the  island  as  a  permanent  trading  post 
even,  to  say  nothing  of  military  occupation,  of  which 
there  is  not  the  slightest  trace  of  evidence,  but  there 
are  many  reasons  why  they  should  not  have  so  used 
it.*     But  of  these,  more  hereafter. 

Tn  the  next  chapter  we  bring  to  tlie  notice  of  the 
reader,  some  of  the  links  in  the  chain  of  evidence, 
which  finally  sliovv  conclusively,  when  and  by  whom, 
the  Old  Fort  was  erected  and  by  whose  orders. 

'  Abner  Hubbard,  who  at  that  time  resided  at  Hubbard's 
Bay, — now  known  as  Millen's  Bay,  or  "  Riverview," — together 
with  some  of  his  neighbors,  as  soon  as  they  heard  of  the  declara- 
tion of  war.  went  over  to  the  island  at  night  and  took  possession 
of  the  fort.  The  entire  garrison  consisted  of  three  decrepit  old 
soldiers  and  two  old  women.  It  is  needless  lo  say,  that  the 
garrison  was  completely  surprised,  and  surrendered  without  firing 
a  gun.  It  was  marched  immediately  to  Sacketts  Harbor,  and 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  military  authorities  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  war.  Hubbard,  and 
his  army,   which  tradition   says  consisted   of  "  two  men  and  a 


40  CONSIDERATION    OF    THEORIES. 

boy,"  have  always  been  ciedited  with  having'  burned  the  barracks; 
but  this  is  denied  by  relatives  of  Hubbard  now  living.  It  is 
said  that  a  party  of  soldiers  came  over  from  Kingston,  burned 
the  barracks  and  entirely  dismantled  the  fort.— Ed. 

'A  copy  of  La  Hontan's  map,  much  older  than  Sauthier's  and 
drawn  much  nearer  by  many  years  to  the  actual  occurrence 
which  gave  the  name,— that  of  the  unfortunate  expedition  of  de 
Le  Barre,— and  therefore  more  likely  to  be  accurate,  lies  before 
me;  and  the  position  of"  Famine  River"  as  there  located  is  so 
plain,  that  it  leaves  no  doubt  whatever  that  Sandy  Creek,  in  the 
town  of  Ellisburg,  is  the  true  locality.  With  all  the  facts  before 
us,  if  is  incomprehensible  how  at  any  time  Black  River  could 
have  been  thought  indentical  with  "La  Famine,"  or  "Hender- 
son Harbor"  with  "  Hungry  Bay."— Ed. 

*  [Catorocui, —later  orthography,  Cataraqui.  It  has  been  a 
matter  of  speculation  as  to  the  origin  of  the  word,  and  whether 
it  was  the  name  of  a  tribe  of  Indians  known  as  the  Citaraquis,  or 
whether  it  was  the  designation  of  a  large  extent  of  country,  or 
both;  and  as  yet  I  have  been  unable  to  solve  the  question.  In  the 
winter  of  18S5,  while  delving  among  some  old  books  on  the  shelves 
of  the  city  library  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  I  picked  up  a  fragment  of 
an  old  book  having  neither  cover,  title  page,  nor  date.  In  fact 
several  pages  of  the  first  part  of  the  book  were  missing,  and  how 
many  of  the  final  pages  were  gone  I  cannot  tell.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  a  dissertation  on  the  "  Indian  tribes  of  North  America  "  at- 
tracted my  attention,  and  the  more,  because  I  had  received  a  let- 
ter from  Col,  Wm.  L.  Stone,  the  well-known  historical  writer, 
calling  my  attention  to  this  subject. 

The  fragment  in  question  bore  the  marks  of  great  age,  and  was 
undoubtedly  a  translation  from  the  French,  and  printed,  probably 
in  London.     It  would  seem,  however,  that  the  writer  had  either 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS.  41 

made  some  careful  observations  or  had  else  indulged  in  sonie 
ingenious  speculations.  Speaking  of  the  Iroquois,  he  gives 
their  national  boundary  as  at  first  extending  from  the  Sorcl 
River,  to  the  Great  Lakes,  from  thence  to  the  Mississippi,  east 
to  the  Santee  River,  and  along  the  coast  to  the  Hudson.  He 
gives  the  original  name  as  "  Hirocouis."  "  Hiro,"  interpreted, 
means:  "  I  have  said  it,"  while  the  common  name  applied  to  all 
the  tribes  w^ithin  the  boundaries  named,  was  "  Mingoes," — 
"United  people."  The  writer  says  also,  that  "  couis  "  signi- 
hes  "possessor."  or  ."  I  possess,"  so  that  "  Hirocouis,"  would 
mean:  "  I  have  said  it,  I  possess";  not  a  very  unreasonable  con- 
clusion either  tor  so  powerful  a  tribe  as  the  Iroquois  once  were 
to  arrive  at.  It  would  seem  also  that  at  one  time  a  very  strong 
nation  known  as  "Cats"  occupied  nearly  the  whole  of  Upper 
Canada  or  what  is  now  the  Province  of  Ontario,  but  in  a  war 
with  the  "  Hiro  couis  "  they  were  conquered,  and  themselves  and 
their  lands  absorbed  by  their  conquerors;  and  that  they  were  after 
wards  known  as  "Cat  Hirocouis,"  and  in  time  as  "Cataraquis," 
and  that  ever  after,  the  boundary  of  the  Iroquois  extended  across 
the  Great  Lakes  and  far  as  Michilimacinac. 

From  the  fact  that  Lake  Ontario  was  once  known  as  Catara- 
qui  Lake,  and  the  St.  Lawrence  as  the  Cataraqui  river,  and  that 
several  islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence  bore  the  same  name,  it  would 
seem  that  the  cognomen  was  meant  to  indicate  a  large  extent  of 
country;  but  again,  the  naming  of  the  first  settlement  by  the 
French  in  Upper  Canada,  "  Catorocui,"  would  indicate  a  tribe 
of  that  name  whose  principal  town  was  perhaps  in  that  vicinity. 
On  the  whole,  I  am  inclined  to  the  belief  that  the  term  signifies: 
"The  land  of  the  'Cataraquis'";  the  lands  conquered  and  pos- 
sessed by  the  Iroquois,  The  "Cats,"  or  "  Kaws,"  Schoolcraft 
thinks,  were  a  remnant  of  the  "  Eries." — Ed.] 


42 


COFSIDERATION    OF    THEORIKS. 


*  ["  Isle  Royal,"  an  island  in  the  St.  Lawrence  river  a  short 
distance  below  Ogdensburg  ^known  in  early  days  as  La  Presen- 
tation^, was  once  the  site  of  a  strong  fort,  called  "Fort  Levis." 
1  he  plan  of  {he  fort  is  plainly  distinguishable  to  ihis  day.  It  was 
a  more  extensive  and  more  elaborate  military  work  than  that  on 
Carleton  Island,  but  did  not  possess  the  natural  advantages  of 
the  latter. 


It  was  occupied  by  the  French  for  many  years,  but  finally  cap- 
tured by  Lord  Amherst  in  1760,  after  a  severe  engagement,  it> 
which  the  losses  were  great  on  both  sides.  The  fort  was  com- 
manded by  M.  Pouchot,  an  ollicer  of  distinction  who  defended  it 
with  great  bravery  and  with  signal  ability.     The  French  had  long 


^ 


NOTES    AND   COMMKNTS.  '         43. 

looked  for  an  attack  upon  thai  point,  and  more  especially  in  the 
autvimn  of  1758,  when  small  parties  with  swift  canoos  were  sta- 
tioned at  various  points  among  the  Thousand  Islands,  to  give 
prompt  and  early  notice  of  the  approach  of  an  enemy.  For  this 
purpose  a  lookout  of  twelve  men  was  sent  to  "  Isle  aux  Cheverr 
eux,"  [Goat  Island;  called  by  the  English,  "  Buck,"  "  Deer," 
and  lastly  Carleton  Island],  from  Fort  Frontenac  [Kingston], 
from  which  point  they  were  occasionally  relieved,  until  it  be- 
came evident  that  no  attack  would  be  made  that  year."  These 
facts  are  gleaned  from  M.  Pouchot,  who  has  left  a  very  complete, 
as  well  as  accurate  account  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  its 
vioinity. 

It  may  be  further  added  here,  that  the  above  is  the  only  record  , 
as  yt  r  discovered,  of  any  French  occupation   of  the   island   what- 
ever.— El).] 


/ 


J' . 

f 


CHAPTER    n[. 


LINKS    IN    THE    CHAIN.       EXTRACTS    FROM    OLD    LETTERS. 

MILITARY     ORDERS     IN     '76.       A     MODEL     LETTER    OF 

INTRODUCTION.       ORDERS  TO  A  SEA   CAPTAIN. 

i,^iS't  E  now  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  the  notice  of 
l^^:^  the  reader  a  Col.  Christie,  "  Quarter  Mas- 
ter n-eneral  of  His  Majesty's  Forces,"  in  and  c»  j-oute 
to  America,  through  the  medium  of  an  order  to  his 
clerk,  a  Mr.  Francis  Goring,  whose  name  will  often 
appear  in  these  pages. 

This  document,  except  perhaps  being  a  trifle  more 
gentlemanly  in  its  tone,  differs  but  little, -under  the 
circumstances,  from  what  wou.ld  be  a  similar  order 
issued  by  a  Quartermaster  General  of  to-day.  These 
extracts  are  given  verbatim  et  literatim.  The  order  is  as 
follows:  *        ' 

''Sir,  • 

You  "diill proceed  on  board  the  Speak  \^Speke^  Hos- 
pital Vessel^   and  take  with  you  what  artificers  you  find 

ready  at  Deptfordy  and  by  the  order  herewith  given^  you 

(44)  ••  1 


4 


MR.    FRANCIS    GORING's     LETTERS.  45- 

7viil  procure  a  passage  to  Corke.  afterivard  to  he  continued 
or  changed  as  the  service  will  permit.  ■ 

You  luill  inform  yourself  on  your  arrival  at  Corke,  of 
the  respective  Artificers  sent  on  board  the  transports  Lucretia^  ^ 
Providence,  Sarah,  and  Charming  Sally,  which,  with  those 
on  board  the  Hospital  ships  or  any  others  who  have  been  em- 
harked  or  engaged  by  me  as  Quarter  Master  General  for 
the  service  of  Canada,  [and}  let  them  be  divided  when  they 
sail  from  Corke  in  two  vessels,  or  three  vessels  ;  that  is  to 
say,  proportionately  ;  the  ship  Carpenters  and  Caulkers, 
as  well  as  Sawyers  :  and  if  possible  they  should  go  on 
hoard  of  some  of  the  four  before-named  transports  which 
carry  proportionately  the  stores  belonging  to  the  Quarter 
Master  GcneraVs  Department,  on  board  of  which  you  will 
also  go  yourself  ,  and  in  cq,se  of  any  difficulties  you  will  ap- 
ply to  the  General  or  other  officer  commanding. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  London,   this 

2 1  st  day  of  March,  iTjd. 

G.  CHRISTIE.  Q.  M.  G. 

You  have  a  list  annexed  of  the  names  of  thos'  J  have 
already  embarked  as  aforesaid,  and  a  number  more  I  ex- 
pect bv  some  of  the  transports  from  Glasgow,  in  tvhich 
case  you  7vill  take  their  names  and  dispose  of  them  as  above 
directed  ivith  the  others.'"' 

To  Mr.  FRANCIS  GORING, 

It  was  not  deemed  necessary  for  our  present  pur- 
pose to  copy  the  "  list  "  of  names  mentioned  above 


46  LINKS   IN    THE    CHAIN    OF    EVIDENCE. 

although  it  was  in  the  original  order,  and  contained 
about  sixty  names  of  "artificers,"  destined  princi- 
pally to  do  duty  with  Burgoyne's  army  then  organ- 
izing for  the,  to  it,  disastrous  campaign  of  1777. 

The  following  letter  was  written  also  in  London, 
to  the  same  person,  but  dated  the  day  before.  It  is, 
though  somewhat  unique,  a  model  in  some  direc- 
tions, and  worth  reading. 

'''London^  20th  March  1776. 
Sir. 

I  am  informed  by  our  friend  Mr.  Andre7v  Nicoll, 
that  you  are  going  out  to  Quebec^  Clerk  to  Colonel  Christit, 
<ind  He  bei?ig  desirous  for  your  well  doing  has  requested 
me  to  give  you  the  names  of  some  persons  of  Character 
whom  yoii  may  with  credit  and  safety  cultivate  an  acquaint- 
ance withy  possibly  to  your  mutual  advantages.  I  therefore 
take  the  liberty  to  ?iame  the  followi7ig  gentlemen  whom  f 
have  the  honor  to  be  knojvn  by^  and  wJiom  I  am  certain 
will  not  misuse  any  confidence  you  may  place  in  them^  and 
will  be  ready  to  render  you  such  service  as  I  u?n  persuaded 
you  will  merit  J  and  I  flatter  myself  that  mentioning  your 
being  known  and  esteemed  by  ?ne  ivill  not  be  in  any  way 
hurtful  to  you, 

Mr.  Thd's  Aylwin^  Mr.  yohn  Collins. 

Mr.  yno  Lee.  Mr.  yohn  Aitkin. 

Mr,  Robert  Wilcox.  Mr.  yohn  Patterson, 


MR.    FRANCIS    GORING'S     LETTERS.  '  47 

Mr.  Peter  Mills.  Mr.  Peter  Napier. 

Mr.  Minott.  Mr,  yames  Thompson. 

Mr,  Franks  Anderson.  Mr.  Lauclan  Smith. 

I  have  the  Honour  also,  to  be  known  by  Captain  Carle- 
to?!"^  the  Governors  Nephew  who  can  assist  you  if  your 
pursuits  are  Military.     I  sincerely  wish  you  success. 

Sir,  your  well  wishing  Friend 

JNO.  G  AW  LOR. 
Mr.  FRANCIS  GORING." 

But  Mr.  Francis  Goring  chose  to  enter  civil  life, 
as  we  shall  see  hereafter;  and  preferred  selling  to 
shooting,  and  the  yard  stick  to  the  musket ;  trading 
trinkets  to  the  Indians  for  furs  rather  than  fighting, 
on  the  frontier. 

The  next  is  a  brief  letter  from  Col.  Christie,  and 
introduces  to  our  notice  a  Mr.  John  Clunes.  He 
was  one  of  the  above-mentioned  artificers,  and 
came  to  America  in  the  same  vessel  with  Mr.  Fran- 
cis Goring.  Mr.  Clunes  will  speak  for  himself  later 
on,  and  verify  some  little  scraps  of  history  which 
were  not  fully  established  by  our  writers  on  the 
American  Revolutian. 

^''London  z^th  At  arch  1776. 
Sir. 

You  will  please  receive  on  board  your  vessel 
JOHN  CLUNES  and  HENR  V  BOXLER,  tivo  Car-. 


48  LINKS    IN    THE    CHAIN    OF    EVIDENCE. 

pentcrs  engaged  for  his  Majesty's  Service  and  victual  them 
as  usual. 

Your  Most  Humble  Serv'ty 

G.  CHRISTIE,  Q.  M.  Gr 
''  To  Capt.  WA  TCH, 
Commanding  the  Speak 
Hospital  Shipy  near 
Graveshend,  bound  to  Corke.'\  i 

According  to  Boucheite,  in  his  *' History  of  Can- 
ada," already  referred  to,  the  first  occupation  of 
Carleton  Island  was  by  the  English  in  1774,  and  it  is 
highly  probable  that  Bouchette  was  right ;  as  it  was 
not  until  some  time  after  Canada  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  English  that  trading  posts  were  established 
along  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Ontario,  reaching 
in  1775  as  far  west  as  Detroit.  Among  the  most 
prominent  of  these  early  traders,  was  Mr.  James 
Robinson,  who  had  a  store  at  Fort  Niagara  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Niagara  river;  and  who  kept  a  factor 
on  Deer  Island  to  attend  to  the  reshipment  of  his 
goods  from  that  point, — where  they  were  received  by 
batteaux  from  Montreal— to  Niagara.  This  factor 
clerk  was  Archibald  Cunningham.  It  further  ap- 
pears from  the  perusal  of  an  old  letter  written  by 
Mr.  Francis  Goring,  late  in  the  autumn  of  1776,. 
dated  at  Niagara,  that  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Mr.  Robinson,  and  later  on  he  was  Mr.  Rob*- 


ARCHIBALD   CUNNINGHAM'S    LETTERS.  49 

iiisons's  principal  business  manager,  and  eventually 
bought  out  his  employer,  who  returned  to  England 
in  1781  or  1782. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  letters  written 
by  Mr.  Archibald  Cunningham,  stationed  at  Deer 
Island,  to  Mr.  Francis  Goring,  at  Niagara.  They  are 
introduced  here  for  two  reasons;  the  principal  one 
being  to  establish  the  date  as  near  as  practicable, 
when  the  narqe  of  the  island  was  changed  from 
"Deer"  to  "  Carleton ":  and  to  bring  out  some 
interesting  incidents  of  those  times.  Naturally, 
when  the  English  made  of  Carleton  Island  a  sort  of 
naval  station,  they  kept  a  small  garrison  there,  and 
from  the, following  letter  such  appears  to  have  been 
the  case. 

"  Sir. 

At  Capt.  Montpensens^  our  CommamVir  desire^ 
U'hv  finch  it  absolutely  necessary  to  have  an  assortment  of 
Indian  Goods  at  this  post,  please  pack  up  and  send  me  ■ 
down  with  the  first  conveyance,  50  lbs.  Poivder,  100  Balls,. 
50  lbs.  Shott,  100  Flints,  50  Gun  Screws,  -J,  lbs.  Vermilion,. 
Piece  coarse  Linen,  Needles  and  Thread,  30  pair  Jfogo- 
zeens  \Moccasins\  8  Carrots  of  Tobacco,  arid  charge  the 
same  to  Indian  Department.  The  Haldimand  has  en- 
tirely cleared  the  Ground,  both  of  King'' s  stores,  and  Mer- 
chant Goods  but  has  none  of  ours  on  board,  and  I  don't 
D 


:*' 


50         •   "      LINKS   IN    THE    CHAIN    OF    EVIDENCE. 

expect  any  to  come  up  till  the  vessels  arrive  from  England 
of  which  we  have  as  yet  no  accounts. 

I  am.  Dr.  Sir  your  most  ObaVt  Serv^t, 

ARCH'D  CUNNINGHAM:' 
Deer  Island^ 
\st  yune^  ^77^' 

"  F.  S.  There  are  upwards  of  40  Canoes  of  Indians  on 
the  ground  at  present  having  come  in  the  other  day  ;  two 
small  party s  are  now  singing  their  war  songs  to  go  on  a 
scouting  party  to  Fort  Stanwix  \Fome^^  afid  the  remainder 
wait  for  their  presents:^ 

It  appears  from  many  other  sources  that  Carleton 
Island  was  a  place  of  general  rendezvous  for  those 
tribes  friendly  to  the  English,  and  that  there  is  where 
they  assembled  to  receive  their  presents,  don  their 
war-paint,  and  set  forth  on  their  marauding  expedi- 
tions against  the  defenceless  outlying  settlements  of 
New  York, 

Here  is  an  extract  from  another  letter,  which  car- 
ries us  to  the  i8th  of  July,  1778. 

"  Sir.  *  *  *  /  expected  to  have  the  pleasure  of  he- 
in<r  with  you  last  trip,  but  being  by  Mr.  Robinson's  direction 
to  return  on  notice  of  the  Fleet's  arrival  at  Quebec,  * 
*  *  /  am  unhappily  disappointed.  As  for  NervSj  I 
Can't  inform  you  of  any  more^  than  that  there  is  no  French 
Wary  and  that   Gen.  Haldiinand'^   has  arrived  with  a 


ARCHIBALD    CUNNING  KAM's    LETTERS.  5I 

small  body  of  troops  to  succeed  Gen,  Carleton,^  who  goes 
home.     Expecting  to  hear  of  your  well  being  : 

I  am  Dr.  Sir,  your  Most  Humble 
Serz'^t. 

ARCH  \D  CUNNINGHAM, ' ' 
D.  Island. 
\Wi  July  x-i-jZ, 
To  Mr,  Goring, 

Another  written  on  the  lastday  of  the  month,  says: 

(^Extract.; 

"  Sir,      *       *       *       *        There  is   almost   the 
'certainty  of  a  French  war^  and  what  is  worse,  nothing  but 
discord  reigning  among  the  British  Ministry,     Hoping  in 
my  next  to  'give  you  d  better  information  of  the  times y' 
I  am,  Dr.  Sir,  Yours  most  sincerely, 

ARCH  'D  CUNNINGHAM,    . 
D.  Island  ^i St  July  _r...       , 

1778.     To  Mr,  Goring.  . 

The  next  extract  carries  us  forward  to  the  25th  of 
August  of  the  same  year,  but  we  hear  nothing  more 
of  the  expected  "  French  war." 

{^Extract  J 

"  Dear  Sir.  *  *  *  /  received  your  agree- 
able favor  of  the  15M  with  the  very  acceptable  supplies 
which  came  so  oppvtunely.  *  *  *  /  ^^^11  take  the 
Liberty  to  trouble  you  for  a  recruit  of  Pork  and  pease. 


52  LINKS    IN    THK    CHAIN    OF    EVIDENCE. 

*     *     'K     jsj-gf.  Die  if,fj^f  ficjujs  siirruig  here  only  we  hear 
the  Yankees  are  coming  to  Detroit  by  Illwois. 

I  am  Dear  Sir  yours  tnost  Obed  'tly 

AKCH'D  CUNNINGIfAAf, 
Deer  Island  z^th  August 
1778.      To  Mr.  Goring. 

P.  S.  Please  send  me  a  supply  of  paper y  Am 
entirely  out,  ComdW  Grant,  will  deliver  Mr.  Robinson 
the  ;^ioo  of  Le  Parlow^  in  place  of  Capt.  Baker. 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Cunningham  to  Mr.  Goring, 
written  October  22d,  1778,  is  dated  at  "  Carleton 
Island."  It  is  evident  then,  that  the  change  of  name 
from  "  Deer  "  to  "  Carleton  "  took  place  between  the 
2Sth  of  August  and  the  22d  of  October,  1778.  After 
speaking  of  having  news  of  an  engagement  between 
the  British  and  French  fleets,  Mr.  Cunningham  says: 

(^Extract. ^   . 

"  Sir.  *  *  *  There  is  also  certain  advice  of 
the  taking  one,  and  destroning  two  capital  Rebel  Frigates, 
ivhich  is  the  most  that  is  done  this  Campaign,  at  least  that 
we  can  hear  of. 

T  am  Dear  Sir  Yours  most  Sincerely 

ARCH'D  CUNNINGHAM. 
Carleton  Island 
22d  Oci.iilZ. 
To  Mr.  Goring. 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS.  53 

By  the  above  date  it  will  be  seen  that  the  change 
of  name  is  narrowed  to  a  period  of  thirty-six  days,  in 
the  autumn  of  1778;  and  the  next  letter,  which  is 
given  entire,  pretty  effectually  drives  the  nail  home, 
and  in  reality  settles  the  question. 

^  Capt.  Christopher  Carleton  was  a  nephew  of  Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton,  being  the  son  of  Sir  Guy's  eldest  brother  William,  a  captain 
of  the  i8th,  or  Royal  Irish  Regiment  of  Foot,  who  with  his  wife, 
the  mother  of  Christopher,  was  drowned  at  sea  in  1753.  Chris- 
topher was  born  at  Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  in  1749,  and  entered 
the  British  Army  as  ensign  in  1761,  in  the  31st. Foot.  In  1763, 
he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy;  to  be  captain  lieutenant  in 
1770  ;  captain  in  1772  ;  and  major  of  the  29th,  in  1777.  He  was 
appointed  an  aid  on  the  staff  of  his  uncle,  in  May,  1776,  and 
served  in  Canada  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  became  a 
lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army,  Feb.  ly,  1783,  and  died  at  Que- 
bec, June  14,  1787. 

"  Gen.  Sir  Frederick  Ilaldimand  was  born  in  Switzerland, 
and  also  died  there.  His  first  military  service  was  in  the  Prus- 
sian army,  but  subsequently  he  entered  the  British  service  with 
<7en.  Bouquet.  He  was  promoted  to  be  Lt.  Col.  of  the  60th 
'•Royal  Americans"  and  came  to  America  in  1757.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  America,  and  in  1775,  we  find  him  in  England 
giving  the  Ministry  information  regarding  the  colonies.     He  re- 

» 

turned  to  America  in  1776,  with  the  rank  of  Lieut.  Gen.  He 
succeeded  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  as  Governor-general  of  Canada,  in 
1778,  and  held  that  office  until  1784.  He  returned  to  Switzerland 
and  died  in  1791. 

*  Guy  Carlet<Tin  was  born  at  Strabane,  Ireland,  Sept.  3d,  1724. 
He  began  his  military  career  at  a  very  early  age,  gaining  the 


54  LINKS    IN    THE    CHAIN    OI     EVIDENCE. 

ran^k  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army  in  1757.  In  17CS  he  wa? 
assigned  to  duty  with  the  72  Reg'tand  the  next  year  acc(jinpanied 
Wolfe  to  Quebec  as  his  Quarter  Master  General,  being  at  the 
same  time  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  in  "  America  only." 
At  the  battle  on  the  Heights  of  Abraham,  he  was  severely  wounded. 
In  Feb.,  I7fj2,  he  became  colonel  in  the  army  and  was  assigned 
to  the  (;3d  Reg't  of  Foot,  which  being  soon  disbanded,  he  went 
upon  half  pay.  On  the  24th  of  Sept.,  1766,  he  was  made  Lieut. 
Gov.  of  Quebec,  and  promoted  to  be  Governor,  Oct.  26,  1768. 
(  On-the  25th  of  May,  1772,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major 
!  General,  In  1775,  when  the  Americans  captured  Montreal,  Gen. 
Carleton  escaped  in  a  birch  bark  canoo,  and  reached  Quebec  ac- 
companied only  by  his  boatman  ana  an  aid-de-camp;  but  it  is  n© 
doubt  owing  to  his  untiring  energy,  and  unceasing  watchfulness, 
that  Quebec  was  saved  from  capture.  "  Gen.  Carleton's  humane 
treatment  of  American  prisoners  did  much  to  mitigate  the  hor- 
rors of  war;  and  had  all  the  British  commandereJ  in  America 
adopted  his  wise  moderation,  the  achievement  of  American  in- 
dependence would  have  been  a  much  more  difficuK  undertaking 
than   it  was.     He  was  appointed  '  Knight  of  the  Balii,' July  6th, 

1776.  Being  well  aware  that  he  did  not  stand  high  in  favor  with 
Lord  George  Germaine,  His  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State,  on  the 
appointment  of  Burgoyne  to  the  command  of  the  ar«iy  destined 
to  invade  New  York,  he  asked  to  be  relieved  of  his  coiTimand  in 
Canada,  but  it  was  not  until  1778  that  he  sailed  for  England, 
having  been  relieved  by  Gen.  Haldimand.  The  disastrous  re- 
sult of  Burgoyne's  campaign  brought  about  a  great  reaction  in 
favor  of  Gen.  Carleton  who  was  publicly  complimented  by  the 
King  in  person.     He  became  a  Lieut. -Gen.  in  the  army  Aug.  29th, 

1777,  and  in  March,  1782,  superseded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  com- 
mander in    chief  in  America,  with  headquarters  in  New  York  ; 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS. 


55 


but  as  the  fighting  was  now  over,  he  could  do  but  little  more 
than  correct  abuses,  and  render  his  services  to  protect  the  inter- 
ests ol  those  who  had  remained  loyal  to  the  crown.  He  was 
eievatedj^io  the  Peerage  in  Aug.,  1786,  as  Baron  Dorchester,  of 
Dorchester,  Oxfordshire.  Having  been  appointed  Governor  of 
Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  and  New  Brunswick,  with  the  exception  of 
a  single  ye;u's  absence,  he  continued  in  that  government  until 
1796.  He  (lied  suddenlv  at  his  seat  in  Berkshire  Nov.  loth, 
1808."     See  Appendix  7  i  :ige  429,  Hadden's  Orderly  Book. — Ej). 


CHAPTER  IV. 


"JOHN     CLUNKS,**     AGAIN.        AN      INTFRESTINd     LETTER, 

AND    A    VERY    SATISFACTORY     ONE,       GEN.    HAL- 

DIMAND    WRITES    TO    LORD    GEORGE    GER- 

MAINE.       THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 


HE  following  letter  with  all  its  faults  of  gram- 
mar and  orthography,  is  well  worth  reading; 
and  the  more  so  as  its  principal  statements  are  fully 
verified  by  various  historians. 

Carkton  Islu'id  Alarcli  24///  1779. 

''Sir. 

Very  agreeably  I  received  your  letter  dated 

Deer  I  St.  J  which  did  afford  me  great  satisfaction  to  hear  of 
your  agreeable  situation.  About  a  Month  before  I  left  you 
1 711  as  made  a  Master  Sawyer  at  the  pay  of  4.  sfg  per  day 
and  remain  at  that  pay  still.  I  have  surmounted  many 
difficulties  along  Knth  Geti.  Burgoyen  hut  escaped  being  a 
Conventioner  [^Prisoner],  by  being  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill 
close  to  Tyconderoga^  where  with  72  Artificieres  \artificers^ 
J  was  riseing  \raising\  a  Fortification  on  purpose  to  secure 
Genl.  Burgoyens  retreat.,  but  the  mifortunate  Gen.  Bur- 
■  ■  •  (56)  


fOUN    CLUNts'    LKTTKR.  57 

}^oyen  never  could  have  retreat  so  far.  (/J  suppose  he  tryed 
it^  but  was  surrounded.  No  sooner  had  they  surrounded 
the  British  army  than  a  detachment  of  1500  0/  the  Rebel- 
lious Crew  came  back  to  Tyconderoi^a  on  purpose  to  retake 
it.  accordini:^ly  their  first  attack  was  upon  Ale  on  the 
top  of  thc*'Mount.  of  which  they  took  and  killed  every  man 
of  us  but  9  of  tvhich  my  Jh  other  and  my:'elf  are  tivo. 
After  a  retreat  almost  incredible  without  you  was  to  see  the 
Precipes  \precipiccs\y  and  when  we  come  to  the  water  side 
our  difficulty  icas  to  get  over  to  Tyconderoga,  but  fortun- 
ately I  sah>  an  old  Battoux  \batteaii\  which  we  all  got  into 
but  was  so  leaky  that  she  was  like  to  sink  with  us  btU  ice 
kept  bailing  her  out  with  hats  and  caps  the  best  icay  that 
7fv  could,  we  had  no  oars  but  the  throts  \thwarts\  of  the 
boat  that  we  paddled  with. 

In  ti  is  condition  did  I  make  Tyconderoga  all  tore  almost 

to  pieces — /  lost  all  my  clothes  &>  40  Gincas  \guineas^^  ivhich 

I  had  in  my  purse  which  I  lost  in  the  retreat  by  a  stump 

that  tore  my  Breeches  a /id  thy.     [ihigh^     In  short  J  lost 

above  j  00  pounds  that  fnor ring  for  it  Teas  about  one  o'clock 

when  I  was  siDpriscd — as  soon  as  Genl  Powell  saiv  my 

condition  for  he  ilhu    Commanding  Officer.^  he  clothed  me 

and  all  my  few  people  that  was  with  me  as  some  of  us  7C'as 

half  naked  as  we  was  asleep  when  the  Cowardly  Villiains 

surprised  us.     Genl  Powell  commended  my  Conduct  much 

in  regard  to  my   desperate  Retreat ^  and  he  gave   me   20 

mort'  Carpenters  and  ordered  me  immediately  to  risi  \f-aise\ 
E 


58  THE   QUESTION    SETTLED. 

platfonns  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  mount  cannon^  and 
Ijcfore  6  o'clock  that  very  mght  I  had  1 6  pieces  of  Cannon. 
[moiinted\      The  Febles  kceped  a  Constant  fire  on  me  from 
the  luoods  with  small  Arms  and  wounded  several  of  my 
covering  -tdrtyj  but  never  touched  me  nor  any  of  the  carpcn- 
icrs — about  8  o'clock  the  Rebles  sent  in  a  Flagg  of  truce  to 
us  but  Genl  Powell  would  not  see  [//*]  and  ordered  us  to 
fire  on  them  which  we  did  and  out  of  5  killed  3 — about  10 
o'clihk  thev  attacked  us  but  we  always  drove  them  off  with 
loss  of  men— this  way  did  they  lay  seige  to  us  for  five  days 
—  then  they  broke  up  the  seige  they  were  totally  beat — a  few 
((ays  afterward  we  had  the  news  of  Genl  Burgoyens  army 
being  Prisoners,  about  3  weeks   after  Genl  Carleton  sent 
orders  up.  to  Genl  Powell  to  burn  Ticonderoga  to  the  ground 
and  return  to  Canada  with  his  men  ivhich  he  did.     J  came 
to  this  place  along  with  the  Commanding  Engineer,  Lieut. 
IVil'm  Ptiiiss,  C^ )  who  is  my  friend.     I  am  in  a  very  good 
place   and  have    made   several  friends   to  myself  by   my 
sobriety  and  attention  to  my  duty.     I  have  keeft  my  health 
in  this  comitry  very  well.      You  wanted  to  know  where  the 
'    Bakers  were.     Galloway  is  married  and  is  a  baker  at  the 
Isle  of  Oxe  Noxe  [Isle  aux  Noix']  a  little  above  St.  'fohns. 
Mabon  is  still  at  St.  yohns  and  both  of  them-  are   doing 
very  well.     Baxter  is  a  Foreman  at  St.  yohns  and  is  very 
well.     Loggan  insisted  upon  his  discharge  but  whether  he 
went  any  further  than  Quebec  is  more  than  J  can  tell, — he 
got  his  discharge  a  few  days   lefore  I  came  here.     This 


■  t 


GEN.    HALDIMAND's    LETTER.  ^9 

Garrison  is  very  near  finished  and  I  may  venture  is  the 
strongest  place  in  NORTH  AMERICA.  T  hope  it  will 
be  an  honor  to  our  Engineer  and  a  credit  to  our  Master 
Carpenter  and  me,  and  every  Artificier  concerned  in  build- 
ing it.  The  Commanding  Off'r  of  this  place  has  ijuarreled 
ivith  every  officer  in  this  place  except  Mr.  Baker  Capt. 
Anderson  and  Gill  the  doctor  so  th(j,t  no  officer  ivill  speak  to 
him.  I  return  you  my  hearty  thanks  f  fir  you )■  uscfull  and 
generous  present  of  Potatoes^  and  depend  if  it  ever  lays  in 
my  powsr  to  serve  you  I  will.  I  hope  that  you  will  excuse 
my  long  letter  and  I  hope,  you  will  write  me  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible and  you  ivill  much  oblige  your  ^ 

Ob't  Humble  Servt 

JOHN  CLUNES 

Clerk  and Eo reman.'' 
To  Mr  Goring. 

As  a  supplement  to  the  above  letter,  we  here  pre- 
sent another,  which  is  conclusive.  It  will  be  re- 
membered by  students  of  the  history,  that  Sir  Guy 
Carleton,  Commander  in  Chief  of  his  Majesty's  Forces 
in  Canada,  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  affairs 
during  the  memorable  but  disastrous  campaigns  of 
Burgoyne  and  St.  Leger  in  1777,  returned  to  J^ng- 
land  in  1778  and  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Sir  Fred- 
erick Haldimand,  vtrho  writes  as  follows  to  Lord 
George  Germaine,  His  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State. 

"  Camp  at  Sorely  \\th  Oct.,  1778. 
My  Lord  .•    *    *    *    •i^    *    *    *  /  ^^^f  j/^,,  7^^^/^^  ^y  ^/^^ 


6o  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

Engineers  7vitli  Capt.  Aubrey  (^)  and  three  Coh  remain- 
ing of  the  \ith  Reg''t  in  Canada,  a  detachment  from   Sir 
y^ohn  yohnsons  Corps ^  \The  Royal  Greens^  Ed.\  together 
with  a  body  of  Artificers  to  establish  a  Post  at  the  entrance 
of  Lake  Ontario  to  serve  the  purposes  of  a  safe  place  for 
the  traders  to  send  their  goods  to,  which  go  from  Mo7itreal 
in  Boats,  till  the  Kings  i'€ssels  7io7i>  the  only  craft  allowea 
to  navigate  the  Lakes  can  he  spared  from  the  more  urgent 
services,  to  transport  them  to  Niagara,  a  secure  harbor  for 
these  vessels,  and  a  defence  against  the  enterprises  of  the 
Rebecs  upon  this  province  by  that  great  avenue  into  it.     I 
also  sent  up  with  the  same  party  Lieut.  Schank  (^  )  of  the 
Navy,  (who  has  been  employed  upon  Lake  Champlain,)  ana 
is  the  Commissioner  of  the  Dock   Yards,  for  the  benefit  of 
his  judgfnent  with  regard  to  the  best  places  for  a  Harbor, 
and  with  orders  to  construct  as  soon  as  possible  for   that 
Lake  a  number  of  Gun  Boats  which  are  so  useful  in  many 
respects.     /  sent  him  also  the  the  Inspection  and  arrange- 
ment of  the  King's  vessels  there'' 

"  The.  place  pitched  upon  oy  these  gentlemen,  after  having 
been  carefully  examined,  is  an  Island  about  1 2  miles  below 
the  entrance  of  Lake  Ontario,  havifig  Grand  Isle  [Now 
Wolfe  Island.— -Ed]  on  one  side  from  which  is  divided  by 
a  channel  of  something  less  than  a  mile,  and  the  South 
Continent  on  the  other,  at  a  distance  of  one  mile  and  a 
quarter  from  it."" 


GEN.    HAT.DIMAND's    LETTER.  6 1 

"  This  Island  had  gone  for  some  ti?ne  hy  the  name  of 
Deer  Island^  having  been  mistaken  for  that  called  by  the 
French  Isle  aux  Cheverents  [Isle  aux  Chevreuils,^  which 
is  found  to  be  higher  ujy,  and  the  name  of  Carleton  Island 
is  no7v  given  to  this  in  question.  Very  favo-^-able  ground 
for  fortifying^  commanding  a  commodious  ana  xfe  Harbor 
U'hicli  this  Island  possesses  at  the  upper  end  of  it  looking 
toward  the  lake^  induced  the  gentlemen  sent  on  this  service 
to  fix  upon  this  spot,  where  a  Fort  is  begun ^  and  Barracks 
are  building  for  the  Troops, and  the  place  ^uill  be  in  a  toler- 
able state  of  defence,  and  Habitation  by  the  Winter.  A 
Flan  of  which  shall  be  transmitted  to  your  Lordship  as 
soon  as  possible.*     ****** 

It  will  be  noticed  by  the  reader,  that  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham's last  letter  from  "  Deer  "  Island,  was  dated  on 
the  2oth  of  August,  while  his  first  letter  from""  Carle- 
ton  "  Island,  was  dated  the  22d  of  October,  only  eight 
days  later  than  Gen.  Haldimand's  letter  to  Lord 
Germaine;  and  while  Mr.  Cunningham  says  nothing 
about  any  fort,  he  substantiates  Gen.  Haldimand  as 
to  the  change  of  name,  and  also  substantiates  the 
theory  of  the  writer,  advanced  some  years  before  he 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  Gen.  Haldimand's 
letter,  that  the  change  of  name  from  "  Deer "  to 
"Carleton"  took  place  within  the  period  of  the 
thirty-six   days  mentioned  at  the  close  of  a  former 


[See  "Haddon'8  Orderly  Book,"  page  322,  note.    Ed.] 


62  THE    QUESTION    SETTT.ED. 

chapter.  The  truth  of  the  Clunes  letter  is  fairly 
demonstrated  by  Lossing  in  his  "Field  Book  of  the 
Rerolution,"  vol.  i,  page  114,  where  he  relates  sub- 
stantially the  surprise  and  capture  of  a  party  of  Brit- 
ish who  were  erecting  a  battery  near  Ticonderoga. 

It  will  also  be  remembered  that  Gen.  Powell,  who 
at  thgt  time  commanded  the  British  troops  at  Ticon- 
deroga, was  charged  with  having  violated  the  usages 
of  civilized  warfare,  by  ordering  his  men  to  fire  upon 
a  flag  of  truce,  a  charge  which  was  strenuously 
denied.  Gen.  Powell,  in  trying  to  relieve  himself  of 
the  odium,  distinctly  stated  that  he  "  saw  no  flag  of 
truce."  Mr.  Clunes,  innocently  and  honestly,  be- 
cause he  evidently  saw  no  breach  of  custom  in  firing 
upon  a  rebel  flag,  tells  us  that:  "Gen'l  Powell  would 
not  see,  and  ordered  us  to  jire  on  them  luJiich  we  did.'" — 
This  settles  another  disputed  liistorical  question. 

In  connection  with  any  question  as  to  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  Clunes  letter,  or  rather  of  Mr.  Clunes' 
statements,  should  such  question  arise,  the  following 
General  Order,  issued  by  Lieutenant  General  Bur- 
goyne,  will  not  be  without  its  share  of  interest. 

''G.  O.  Oct.  I,  1777. 

/;/  consequence  of  authentic  letters  received  by  the 
Lieutenant  General  from  Brigadier  General  Powel  cpt 
Ticonderoga^  and  Captain  Auhery  [Aubrey]  of  the  j^-jth 
Regiment  commanding  at  Diamond  Island  iti  Lake  George. 


ORDER    or    GEN.    BURGOVNE.  63 

The  army  is  iuforined  that  the  enetriy  hrii'ing  found 
means  to  cross  the  mountains  between  Skenesborough  and 
Lake  George ^  and  having  marched  with  another  Corps ^ 
from  Iliihberton,  \I-Iubba>dtcn^  a  sudden  and  general  At- 
tack was  made  in  the  morning  of  the  \^th  upon  the  carry, 
ing  place  at  Lake-^  George^  Sugar  Hi//,  Ticondcroga,  and 
Mount  Independence,  llie  enemy  so  far  succeeded  as  to 
surprise  the  armed  Boat  stationed  to  defend  the  carrying 
Place,  as  also  the  Posts  on  Sugar  Hill  and  at  the  Portage , 
where  a  considerable  part  of  four  companions  of  the  53^/ 
Regiment  were  made  prisoners, 

A  Blockhouse  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Lord,  icas  the 
only  Post  on  that  side  that  had  time  to  make  use  of  their 
ar?ns,  and  they  made  a  brave  Defence  till  Cannon.  (Sup- 
posed to  be  taken  from  the  Surprize  Vessel)  was  brought 
against  them. 

After  stating  and  lamenting  sc  fatal  aivant  of  Vigilence^ 
tJu  Lieutenant  General  has  to  congratulate  the  Troops 
upon  the  Event  which  followed. 

The  Enemy  having  twice  summoned  Brigadier  General 
Po7vel,  and  received  such  ansicers  as  became  a  gallant 
Officer  entrusted  with  an  importaui  Post  and  having  tried 
during  the  course  of  four  Days  several  Attacks^  and  being 
repulsed  in  all^  retreated  without  having  done  any  consider- 
able damage. 

Brigadier  General  Powel  gives  great  commendations  to 
the  Regiment  of  Prince  L^ederick^  and  the  other  Troops 


64  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

stationed  on  Mount  Independence.  The  Brigadier  also 
tnentions  with  great  applause  the  Behavior  of  Captain 
Taylor  of  the  2\st,  J^egiment,  who  commanded  100  men  in 
the  Fort  of  Tycondcroga  and  thai  he  was  well  supported  i>y 
Lieutenant  Beacroft  of  the  24///  Regiment  who  with  the 
Artificers  in  Arms  in  the  Half  Moon  Battery,  prevented 
the  Enemy  from  surrounding  the  Fort,  On  the  24///  In- 
stant the  Rebels  with  the  Gunboats  and  Batteaux  which 
they  had  surprised  at  the  carrying  Place  at  Lake  George 
attacked  in  two  Divisions,  Diamond  Island,  where  Captain 
Aubery  and  a  Detach)ncnt  of  the  <\ith  Regiment  were  posted 
with  sofne  Cafinon  and  Gun  Boats;  the  Rebles  were  re- 
pulsed with  Great  Loss; — *     *     *     * 

An  extract  from  a  General  Order  issued  by  Gen. 
Carleton,  writing  from  St.  John's  24th  September, 
1776,  fixes  the  status  of  Lieutenant  Twiss.  It  is  as 
follows: 

'''A  Disposition  being  made  for  the  Army  to  proceed  in 
search  of  the  Enemy,  the  Commander  in  Chief  takes  the 
occasion  to  thank  Major  General  Phillips.,  and  all  his 
Department,  for  the  Zeal  and  Activity  with  which  the^repa- 
rations  have  been  concluded,  and  likewise  Captain  Douglas 
for  the  cheerful  and  great  assistance  afforded  from  the 
Naval  Department.  Captain  Pringle,  Captain  DacreSy 
and  Captaifis  Schank  and  Stark  of  the  JVavy,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Twiss,  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  deserve  particular 
distinction  in  this  acknowledgment.     *     *     *  ^ 


OLD    KORT    STANWIX,  65 

These  extracts  from  "General  Orders,"  aside  from 
their  historical  interest,  settle  the  general  accuracy 
of  Climes'  letter  to  his  friend  and  fellow  passenger 
on  the  hospital  ship  -'Speke,"  from  England  to 
America.  In  concludinjr  this  chapter,  we  introduce 
an  extract  of  a  General  Order  issued  on  the  island 
in  question,  supplemented  by  a  letter  which,  although, 
it  does  not  affect  our  argument  as  to  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Old  Fort,  will   prove  of  interest  to  all  to 


PLAN   OF   OLD   FORT   STANWIX. 

whom  the  locality  is  familiar,  and  will  be  not  out  of 
place  as  an  introduction  to  our  next  chapter  in  which 
old  time  incidents  will  be  brought  out. 


F 


66  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

Tlie  final  order  for  tlie  embarkation  of  the  troops 
destined  for  the  capture  of  I'ort  Stanwix,  [Rome] 
was  issued  by  Col.  Barry  St.  Leger,  at  Lachine  June 
21,  7777.  *  The  next  entry  in  tlie  Orderly  Book* 
is  dated  at  "  Buck  "  Island,  July  8th,  1777,  "  the  first 
order  being, — after  the  detail  for  guard  is  made," — to 
unload  and  repair  the  batteaux.  On  the  10th,  the 
entry  is  headed:  "General  Orders,  by  Brigadier 
Gen'l  St.  Leger,"  and  is  as  follows  : 

"  Lt.  Colonel  St.  Legei\  is  al^pointeJ  to  act  as  Briga- 
dier Genl ;  Chevelicr  St.  Oa/is  appoiiiied  Lt.,  in  Capt. 
Buvilie'e  \Ronville's\  comp\\  of  Canadians.  Two  Substi' 
iutes  and  50  men  to  attend  the  Deputy  Qr.  Master  General 
to  clear  ground  sufficient  to  exe)cise  the  army  ;  the  party 
to  be  furnished  with  proper  Utencils  for  that  purpose.  The 
King^^  Reg'' t  and  the  38///  form  one  Corps  [and]  will  en- 
camp on  the  right.  The  Hessian  Chasseurs  on  the  Left, 
and  the  R.  R,  of  New  York,  [Royal  Regifnent  of  Neic 
York,  also  known  as  the  Royal  Greens,  commanded  by  Sir 
Joltn  J.  Jinson\  in  the  centre.  Lt.  Collerton  will  choose 
out  the  proposed  ground  on  the  right  of  the  Army  for  his 
party  of  Artillery  and  will  begin  Immediately  to  prepare 
Bark  Huts  for  His  Anrmunition.  The  Irregulars  luill 
be  ^arranged  by  the  Deputy  Qr.  Master  Genl.  Col.  Clause 
[Col.  Daniel  Claus\  zuill  take  ground  for  the  Indian 
Allies.'' 

Signed.    JVm.  Crofts  Lt.  t,^  Reg' t.  [Ma /or  of  Brigade.]''  - 

*  See  "  Johnson's  Orderly  Book"  page  G4,— Ed. 


GREAT    TURTLE. 


67 


GREAT  TURTLE. — C i\  chief  of  the  Six  Nations.^ 
The  same  General  Order,  directs  the  Deputy 
Quarter  Master-General,  to  order  a  "  Hut  built  within 
the  lines  of  the  encampment  to  receive  all  the  Publick 
Stores;"  directs  that  the  "Men's  tents"  be  aired 
every  day,  and  the  company  streets  swept,  and  that 
the  "ovens"  be  set  at  work  preparing  bread  for  the 
expedition.  From  all  this  it'  would  seem  that  St. 
Leger  found  no  fortifications  on  the  island  as  late  as 
July  8th,  1777 ;  and  Col.  Daniel  Claus,  who  had  been 
for  some  time  the  Superintendent  of  Indians  for 
Canada  and  was  at  the  Island  in  advance  of  St. 
Leger,  makes  no  mention  of  any  fortifications  there, 
although  he  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  tlie  locality. 


68  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

Though  not  in  any  way  connected  with  the  imme- 
diate point  under  discussion,  the  following  letter 
written  by  Col.  Claus,  *  to  the  noted  Qiief  Thay- 
endanegea,  better  known  as  Joseph  Brant,  ^  and 
dated  at  Montreal,  March  3d,  1781,  will  prove  inter- 
esting to  the  reader.     He  says  : 

"  The  General  \.Hald<mafui\  has  for  some  time  intcfhied 
sending  a  party  of  about  sixty  chosen  loyalists^  under  the 
conunand  of  Major  yessup    toward  Fort  Edivard ;  this 
party  might  join  you  against  Palmcrstoivn  \jiear  Saratoga 
Springs  N.  ¥.]  could  you  ascertain  the   time   and  place y 
ivhich  might  be  nearly  done  by  calculating  the  time  your  ex- 
press luould  take  to  come  fro7n  Carleton  Island^  your  march 
from  thence^  and  Major  yessup' s  from  Point  au  Fe:.  *  *  * 
Should  you  upon  this  adopt  the  GeneraPs  ojfer  and  opinion^ 
and  proceed  from   Carleton  island  to  P aimer stoivn^  lahich 
place  J  am  sure  several  of  Major  Ross's  7nen  and  others  at 
the  island  are  well  acquainted  with^  I  wish  you  the  aid  of 
Providence  with  all  the  success   immaginable ;   in   which 
case  it  will  be  one  of  the  most  essential  services  you  have 
rendered  your  King  this  7uar,  and  cannot  but  by  him  be 
noticed  and  rewarded;  your  return   by  Canada  will  be  the 
shortest  and  most  eligible^  afid  we  shall  be  most  happy  to  see 
you  here.'' 

In  a  postscript  to  this  letter  he  writes : 
♦*  P.  S.   The  great  advantage  of  setting  out  from  Carleton 
Island,  is  the  route,  which,  is  s<f  unexpected  a  one,  that  there 


COI-ONEL    CLAUS    TO    THAYENDANEGEA.  69 

is  hardly  any  doubt  but  yon  will  surprise  tlieni,  icliich  is  a 
great  point  gained,  ll'/iereas  were  you  to  set  out  from 
Canada^  there  are  so  many  friends  to  the  rebel  cause^  both 
whites  and  Indians^  that  you  could  not  well  get  to  the  place 
undiscovered  wJiich  could  not  do  so  well.  D.  C" 

This  letter,  with  other  sources  of  information  at 
hand,  pretty  fairly  establishes  the  fact  that  Carleton 
Island  was  once  the  headquarters  of  that  noted  chief 
of  the  Six  Nations, — Thayendanegea. 

^  William  Twiss   was  born  in  1745  and  entered  the  military 
department  of  the  ordnance  in   1760,  and   was   commissioned   an 

ensign  and  "  Practical  Engineer,"  in  the  Royal  Engineers  in  1764. 
He  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant  and  Sub  Engineer  in  1771,  being 
at  that  time  in  service  at  Gibraltar.  From  1772  to  1775  he  was 
employed  on  the  new  Fortiticaiions  at  Plymouth,  and  early  in 
1776,  he  was  sent  out  to  Gen.  Carleton.  He  landed  in  Quebec 
late  in  May,  and  on  the  i<)th  of  June  he  was  assigned  to  duty  on 
the  siaft"  of  Major  Gen.  IMiillips.  In  conjunction  with  Lieut. 
Schank  of  the  Navy  he  constructed  a  fleet  for  Lake  Champlain. 
In  the  spring  of  1777,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Engineer  of  Bur- 
goyne's  Army.  He  served  throughout  Burgoyne's  campaign,  and 
was  included  in  the  Saratoga  Convention  but  was  shortly  ex- 
changed and  returned  to  Ticonderoga,  which  post  he  assisted  in 
evacuating  in  Nov.,  1777. 

In  the  autumn  of  1778,  he,  together  with  Capt.  Aubrey  of  the 
47th,  and  Lieut.  Schank  of  the  Navy,  was  sent  by  Gen.  Haldimand, 
Sir  Guy  Carleton's  successor,  to  establish  a  post  at  the  entrance 
to  Lake  Ontario.  He  was  steadily  promoted  from  time  to  tiixie, 
and  in  later  years  was  considered  the  best  engineer  in  the  Eng- 


7©  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

lish  service.     He  died  at  the  age  of  82,  having  reached  iho  grade 
of  General."   See  "  Iladden's  Orderly  Hook."  note  page  ifn). — Ed- 

•  Captain  Thomas  Aubrey  bclonged'to  a  very  ancient  English 
family.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Sir  Tiiomas  Aubrey  Hart,  and 
entered  the  army  as  an  ensign  in  Oct.  1762.  In  1765  h  *-  was  pro- 
moted,to  a  lieutenancy,  Jvnd  in  1771  became  a  captain  in  the  47th, 
and  two  years  later  came  with  his  regiment  to  America  where  lie 
served  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  177S,  he,  with  three 
companies  of  his  regiment,  and  a  detachment  of  Sir  John  John- 
son's Reg't  [The  Royal  Greens],  were  sent  to  Carleton  Island  to 
establish  a  post  there,  in  company  with  Lieut.  Twis.s  and  a  Ijody 
of  Artificers.  Captain  Aubrey  remained  in  command  of  Carleton 
Island  for  a  long  lime.  He  became  a  major  in  1785,  and  in  17B8 
he  exchanged  with  Capi.  John  Irving  and  retired.  He  became  a 
member  of  Parliament  and  died  in  London,  Jan.  15,  1814, 

"  Lieut.  John  Schank  was  descended  from  a  very  ancient 
Scottish  family  whose  records  extend  beyond  the  reign  of  Rober 
Bruce.  He  was  born  in  1740,  and  went  to  sea  at  an  early  age  in 
the  merchant  service,  serving  for  the  first  time  on  a  man  of  war 
in  1757, the  Elizabeth  of  74gunscommanded  by  Sir  Hugh  Pallisser. 
He  came  to  America  as  a  midshipman  on  the  Bartleur,  a  98  gun 
ship.  He  was  the  inventor  of  the  centre  board  fur  vessels  and 
built  the  first  one  of  the  kind  for  Lord  Percy  in  Boston,  in  1774. 
He  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  Navy  in  1776,  and  im- 
mediately thereafter,  superintendent  of  the  Naval  Department  at 
St.  Johns,  A  great  feat  of  Lieut.  Schanks'  was  the  'juilding  of 
the  Inflexible,  a  vessel  of  300  tons  having  only  the  help  of  sixteen 
carpenters,  completely  fitting  her  out,  manning,  equipping,  arm- 
ing, and  successfully  fighting  her  against  an  enemy  in  six  weeks 
from  the  laying  down  of  her  keel.  In  1778  he  was  sent  to  Carle- 
ton  Island  by  Gen.  Haldimand  to  arrange  for  the  building  of  ves- 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS.  '  7 1 

sels  and  gun  boats  for  Lake  (Jntirio,  and  at  one  time  he  had  the 
direction  of  four  dock  yards,  located  at  Quebec,  St.  Johns,  Carle- 
ton  Island  and  Detroit.  He  was  no  less  celebrated  for  his  skill 
in  construction,  than  for  his  economical  expenditure  of  the  public 
money,  at  a  time  when  peculation  was  the  well  nigh  invariable 
characteristic  of  the  British  disbursing  officer.*  In  1780,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  a  Master  and  Commander  in  the  Navy,  and  in 
T783  he  became  a  post  captain.  He  passed  through  the  various 
grades  of  Admiral,  and  reached  that  of  Admiral  of  the  Blue,  July 
19,  1821.     He  was  the  inventor  of  many  improvements  in  vessels 


♦As  an  instance  of  orticial  ignorance  on  the  part  of  the  KngliHli  liOrds  of 
the  Admiralty,  t»<e  following  statement,  made  by  Mr.  John  McGregor, 
who  was  a  in-orainent  and  voluniinous  writer  npon  Commercial  Statistice, 
and  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  ami  wlio  made  a  tour  of  Canada  in 
1830  is  decidedly  amusing. 

Speaking  of  the  British  \aval  force  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  of  the  vessels 
constructed  during  the  w.ir  of  1812,  he  says:— "The  wooden  M'ork  of  the 
Psyche  frigate  had  been  sent  out  from  Enj,'land  to  a  country  where  it  could 
be  provided  on  the  spot  in  one-tenth  of  the  time  necessary  to  carry  it  from 
Montreal  to  Kingston,  and  at  one-twentieth  of  the  exiiense.  Even  wedges 
were  sent  out ;  and  to  exemplify  Jiiore  fully  the  Information  possessed  at 
that  time  by  the  Admirality,  a  full  xupply  of  ivatcr  casUa  tinre  xent  to 
Canada  forthe  ut^eof  tfhipa  of  war  mi  Lal:e  Ontario,  where  it  was  only  neces- 
s^ary  to  throw  a  bucket  overboard  with  which  to  draw  up  water  of  the  very 
best  <iuality."— [U/j/is^t  America,  Vol.  1,  p.  187.] 

The  above  is  one  out  of  very  many  instances  of  olticial  ignorance,  and  of 
"  carrying  coals  to  Newtiastle '"  at  government  expense. 

During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  when  Congress  votfd  Gen.  Stark  a 
"new  coat '' for  his  brilliant  success  at  Benningtem,  a  i)rominent  British 
officer  perpetrated  the  witticism  that  :— "  either  the  General  must  be  stark 
naked  or  Congress  stark  mad."  Had  the  British  Admiralty  been  conxposed 
of  "old  salts  "  it  wouUl  have  known  that  the  Maters  of  I^ake  Ontario  were 
fresh.  The  wonder  is,  that  they  did  not  send  the  water  casks  already 
tilled.— Ed.] 


72  THE    QUESTION'    SETTLED, 

which  are  in  use  to  this  day.     He  died  March  G,  1823  in  the  83d 
year  of  his  age. 

*  "  Barry  St.  Leger,  a  nephew  of  the  fourth  Viscount  Donei- 
aile,  was  of  Huguenot  descent,  and  was  born  in  or  about  the 
year  1737.  He  entered  the  British  military  service  as  an  ensign 
in  the  aSih  Foot  in  1786,  and  the  next  year  accompanied  his 
regiment  to  America,  where  it  served  under  Gen.  Ambercrombie. 
He  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  48lh  Foot  in  1758,  and  in 
the  same  year  participated  in  the  soige  and  capture  of  Louisburg. 
In  1759,  he  accompanied  Wolfe  10  Quebec,  participating  in  the 
battle  on  the  Heights  of  Abraham.  In  obedience  to  Wolfe's  last 
order  Webb's  regiment  /^ the  4Sthy'  was  sent  to  Charles  river  to 
cut  ofi'  the  retreat  of  the  French  fugitives  from  the  bridge  ;  here 
St.  Leger  behaved  gallantly  and  was  slightly  wounded.  He 
became  major  of  the  95th  Foot  in  1762.  He  was  promoted  to 
Lieut.  Colonel  in  the  army  in  1772,  and  to  the  lieut.  colonelcy 
of  the  34th  Foot  May  2orh,  1775. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  his  regiment  forined'a  part  of  the  re-en- 
forcement sent  over  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  and  he  accompanied  it  to 
Canada.  He  took  part  in  Sir  Guy's  operations  in  1776,  and  the 
next  year,  acting  as  a  brigadier,  he  led  the  force  which  moved  up 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  by  way  of  Oswego,  Uneida  Lake  and  Wood 
Creek  to  Fort  Stanwix,  and  which  was  intended  after  the  capture 
of  that  point  to  move  dowit  the  Mohawk  to  a  junction  with  Bur- 
goyne  at  Albany.  [For  a  more  detailed  account,  see  "  Hadden's 
Journal,"  note;  page  45.] 

It  was  during  this  expedition  which  terik^inated  so  disastrous- 
ly to  his  command  that  St.  Leger  and  his  arniv  encamped  on  Carle 
ton    Island,   then  known  by  the  English  as  "Buck  Island."     St. 
Leger's  first  order  issued  on   the  island  is   dated  July  8th,  1777, 
and  his  last  on  the  igth,  his  forces  embarking  for  Oswego  on  the 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS.  73 

20th;  from  the  above  dates  it  will  be  seen  that  his  military  occu- 
pation of  the  island  was  twelve  days.  Whether  he  made  a  halt  on 
the  island  in  bis  retreat  does  not  appear,  but  it  is  highly  probable 
that  he  did,  although  a  very  brief  one. 

Of  the  subsequent  operations  of  St.  Leger,  the  authority  above 
quoted  says  : — "Si.  Leger's  force  was  sent  to  Ticonderoga  Sept. 
23d,  1777,  to  be  subject  to  Burgoyne's  orders,  but  as  communica- 
tion with  Burgoyne  was  interrupted,  it  did  not  proceed  south  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  when  that  fortress  was  abandoned  in  November 
of  that  year,  it  returned  to  Canada.  He  became  a  colonel  in  the 
army  in  17S0,  and  a  brigadier  general  in  the  army  in  Canada  in 
1782.  Me  was  commandant  of  his  Majesty's  forces  in  Canada  in 
the  autumn  of  178 4,  and  his  name  appears  in  the  army  lists  for 
the  last  time  in  1785.  He  died  in  1789,  at  a  little  past  fifty  years 
of  age." 

St,  Leger  seems  to  have  been  in  character  a  curious  com- 
pound of  wisdom  and  folly,  strength  and  weakness,  skill,  ability, 
and  incompetence.  That  he  believed  in  the  adage  that  "every- 
thing is  fair  in  war,"  is  shown  by  his  duplicity  in  trying  to  induce 
the  garrison  of  Fort  Schuyler  to  surrender  ;  and  "his  message  in 
which  he  pictured  tlie  terrors  of  unrestrained  savage  allies  was  so 
barbarous  that  Col.  Willett  characterized  it  'as  a  degrading  one 
for  a  British  officer  to  send,  and  by  no  means  reputable  for  a  Brit- 
ish ollicer  to  carry.'  "  Dr.  Moses  Younglove,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Oriskany,  says  that  he  was  informed  by  several  ser- 
geants orderly  on  Gen.  St.  Leger,  that  $20  were  offered  in  general 
orders  for  every  American  scalp.  [See  Appendix  20,  Stone's 
Life  of  Brant.] 

That  St.  Leger  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  military  details, 
is  evidenced   by   his   admirable  description   of  the   duties  of  a 


74 


THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 


provost  marshal,  issued  in  the  orders  of  July  15th,  1777,  at  Buck 
Island.     We  copy  it  in  full  froffi  "Johnson's  Ordeily  Book." 


s.avage  allies. 
" — 15th  P.  ^parole^  London  6.  /"countersign^  Edinburg. 
The  duty  of  the  Provost  Marshal.  The  care  of  all  prisoners  taken 
in  battle,  spies  and  deserters  is  intrusted  to  them  forthwith  ;  he 
will  have  a  guard  strong  in  proportion  to  their  number  ;  all  dis- 
orders in  camp  fall  under  his  cognizance  ;  he  is  to  have  control  of 
all  suttlers  and  traders  selling  liquor,  and  have  authority  for  im- 
pressing such  as  he  finds  disobedient  to  General  Orders  ;  he  is 
to  regulate  all  markets  that  may  be  formed  in  the  Camp,  and  ap- 
point proper  places  for  them,  and  likewise  to  protect  with  his 
authority  and  guard  all  persons  coming  with  provisions  to  the 
troops;  he  is  from  time  to  time  to  send  out  patroles  from  his 
guard  and  whert  necessary  attend  them  himself  ;'to  take  prisoners 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS.  75 

all    marauders   and    stragglers ;  all    his   reports   are   to   the    D. 
^deputy;  Quarter  Master   General-only  for  the  Information  of 
the   Commander-in-Chief  cases   relative  to  the   economy  of  the 
Camp,  and  to  the  D.  A.,  ^deputy  adjutant^  General  all  Extraor- 
dinary matters  ;  as  spies,  deserters,  &c..  &c.     In  cases  of  Execu- 
tions he  is  to  the  Martial  law,  what  the  Sheriff  of  a  County  is  to 
the  Civil  ;  he  is  to  be  pro^tided  with  an  Executioner  when  this  he 
Requests  and  when  a  more  honorable  death  by  fire  arms  is  granted 
he  will  give  the  word  of  command  ;  his  guard  is  to  be  near  head- 
quarters." 

It  is  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  a  better  epitome  of  a  Provost 
Marshal's  duties  can  be  penned  by  a^y  of  the  military  gentlemen 
of  our  day,  while  there  is  an  abundance  of  evidence  to  show  that 
St.  Leger  had,  in  many  instances,  shown  superior  skill  and 
sagacity.  His  great  defect  without  doubt,  was  his  convivial 
habits. 

"  The  testimony  of  Squire  Ferris  who  was  an  American  pris- 
oner in  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1779.  is  of  the  most  unflattering 
description.     Speaking  of  a  party  of  fellow  prisoners   who  had 
attempted    to   escape,    Ferris  says:  'For  four  days   before  they 
were  retaken,  they  had  nothing  for  food  but  tea,  and  were  so  weak 
that  they  could  hardly  walk.     The  forces  at  Sr.  John's  were  then 
commanded  by  Col.  St.  L.ger,  a  brutal   drunkard,  who  ordered 
the  prisoners  to  be  ironed   together,  and  put  them  in  a  dungeon 
for  fourteen  days,  at  the   end  of  ^vhich  time,  and  ironed  hand  in 
hand    to  each  other,  they  were  sent  to  Chamblee.  and  from  there 
by  the  rivers  Sorel    and  St.  Lawrence  to  Quebec."     [See  note  to 
Hadden's  Journal,  page  47]. 

The.tory  of  "  Sir  Darby  Monaghan,"  as  related    in  London 

Clubs,  and  again  in  the  Appendix  to  Johnson's  Orderlv  Book,  is 

an  excellent   illustration  of  one  phase  in  the  character  of  Col. 


76  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

Barry  St.  Leger.  A?  there  told,  the  story  io  too  long  for  our 
space  but  we  make  room  for  a  synopsis,  which  briefly  related  is  as 
follows  : 

The  Duke  of  Rutland  when  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland  fre- 
quently indulged  with  some  boon  companions  in  incognitorambles 
through  the  meaner  parts  of  Dublin.  On  one  occasion  his  Grace, 
accompanied  by  Col.  St.  Lej^er  and  one  or  two  others,  entered  a 
public  house  the  landlord  of  which  had  served  with  St.  Leger, 
in  America,  and  whose  name  was  Darby  Monaghan. 

4 

Darby  was  a  comical  blade,  and  his  guests  found  him  so 
amusing  that  they  invited  him  to  sit  down  to  supper  with  them. 
This  was  Darby's  opportunity  and  he  took  good  care  that  the  en- 
tertainment should  lack  nothing  that  could  give  satisfaction  to  his 
guest.s.  His  abundant  flow  of  native  wit  and  comic  drollery  de» 
lighted  them,  and  his  wine  and  whiskey  punch  were  so  good,  that 
by  two  in  the  morning  they  were  jolly  company. 

The  Duke  was  so  pleased  with  his  landlord  that  in  a  fit  of  good 
humor  he  proposed  to  knight  Darby,  which  he  did,  although  his 
companions  undertook  to  prevent  him  ;  but  all  the  forms  were 
complied  with  and  Darby  having  thanked  his  Grace  and  sworn 
fealty  in  a  bumper  to  the  King  of  England  ordered  in  an  immense 
bowl  of  punch  which  was  filled  and  refilled,  until  at  length  the 
whole  party  became  blind  drunk,  and  rolled  under  the  table 
where  they  3lept  until  morning.  ^ 

\  Darby,  however,  was  soonest  over  the  debauch,  and  he  quickly 
prepared  for  them  a  comfortable  breakfast  of  which  they  freely 
partook,  after  bathing  in  cold  spring  water,  and  partaking  of 
a  glass  of  good  whiskey  or  brandy  as  they  preferred.  Finally 
Col.  St.  Leger  began  to  have  a  dim  perception  that  something 
foolish    had    been    done    the    night    before    in    conferring    the 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS,  77 

order  of  Knighthood  upon  the  redoubtable  Darby,  and  called 
his  Grace's  attention  to  the  fact.  His  Excellency  was  entirely 
oblivious  to  the  circumstance,  and  was  exceedingly  mortified, 
knowing  that  if  it  once  got  wind  he  would  become  the  hiughing- 
stock  of  the  Court,  and  the  jest  of  Great  Britain. 

His  Grace  hoped  that  Darby's  recdlieciions  of  the  matter 
would  be  found  to  be  as  oblivious  as  his  own,  and  if  so,  the 
whole  thing  could  be  successfully  denied  ;  and  to  test  that  matter 
D"irby  was  called  and  questioned,  and  they  soon  found  that  his 
potations  had  in  no  wise  impiared  his  memory  of  the  events  of 
the  previous  evening.  Then  the  question  was,  how  to  get  out  of 
the  awkward  position.  Various  official  positions  were  tendered 
Darby  if  he  would  give  up  the  title,  which  he  refused,  mak.  ng  the 
shrewd  statement  that  he  would  rather  "  Kape  the  toitle  yer  Ex- 
cellency, for  if  it  was  wanst  known  that  Sir  Darby  Monaghan  kept 
a  punch  house  I'd  soon  have  all  the  custom  of  Dublin  city  and 
that  would  be  better  than  a  tide  waiter's  place  annyhow." 

Finally  he  was  offered  an  income  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  a  year  to  give  up  his  Knighthood,  to  which  Darby  said  : 
"  Please  yer  Excellency  I'll  jist  step  upstairs  and  consult  her 
LadysJiip,'^  which  he  did.  Her  Ladyship  wisely  concluded  to 
accept  the  income,  and  so  it  was  settled.  But  the  story  got  out, 
and  the  worthy  couple  not  only  enjoyed  the  income  but  the  title 
also,  as  they  were  known  to  all  Dublin  as  Sir  Darby  and  Lady 
Monaghan, — Ei).] 

'^  [Col.  Daniel  Claus  was  a  native  of  the  Mohawk  Valley, 
and  having  in  early  life  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  Iroquois 
language  he  was  attached  to  the  department  of  Sir  William  John- 
son, as  interpreter,  and  accompanied  him  as  Lieutenant  of 
Rangers  in  the  celebrated  expedition  against  Dieskau.  In  1750 
he  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  the  60th  or  Royal  American  Reg't, 


78  THE    QUESTION    SETTLED. 

and  continued  at  or  near  Johnstown  until  1759,  when  he  accom- 
panied the  expedition  to  Niagara,  from  whence  he  went  to  Mon- 
treal with  the  army  ;  at  which  place  he  was  stationed  as  super- 
intendent of  the  Canadian  Indians.  He  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy  in  1761.  tVith  the  exception  of  occasional  trips  to 
Canada  he  resided  near  Johnstown,  having  married  a  daughter 
of  Sir  William  Johnson,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution, 
when  he  retired  to  Canada.  He  visTted  England  in  1776,  and 
returned  with  a  commission  as  deputy  superintendent  of  Indians, 
and  in  that  capacity  accompanied  vSt.  Leger  in  the  expedition 
against  Fort  Stanwix.  [Rome.]  Many  of  his  letters  still  extant 
show  that  he  did  not  wholly  agree  with  that  officer  in  the  conduct 
of  the  campaign.  Some  of  his  later  years  were  spent  in  England 
in  superintending  the  translation  of  the  *'  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  "  into  the  Mohawk  tongue,  for  which  work  his  long  service 
as  an  interpreter,  and  his  "accurate  knowledge  of  the  Mohawk 
language"  fully  qualified  him.  He  died  at  Cardiff,  Wales,  in 
the  latter  part  of  1787.  His  wife  survived  him  thirteen  years,  and 
died  in  Canada  in  1801.  Johnson's  Orderly  Book,  page  Cg. 
Note  2] 

^  [Joseph  Brant  or  Thayendanegea,  was  a  pure  blooded  On- 
ondaga Indian,  and  the  son  of  a  chief;  but  was  educated  by  the 
care  of  Sir  William  Johnson  at  the  celebrated  Moor  school,  kept 
by  Dr.  Wheelock.  He  was  an  apt  scholar,  and  in  a  short  time 
became  fitted  as  an  interpreter  for  Dr.  Ch&rles  JefTry  Smith,  an 
enthusiastic  young  missionary.  So  satisfactory  did  he  conduct 
himself  at  this  period  in  the  performance  of  all  his  duties,  that 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  said  of  him:  "lie  conducted  himself 
so  much  like  a  Christian  and  a  soldier  that  he  gained  great 
esteem."  When  he  became  chief  of  the  Six  Nations,  he  wielded 
great   authority,  and   co-operated    at  all  times  with  Sir  William 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS. 


79 


Johnson.  He  was  always  an  able  vindica")-  of  what  he 
deemed  the  rights  of  his  people,  both  by  voice  and  pen.  He 
visited  England  in  1775,  attracting  distintfjuishnd  attention  >vhere- 
ever  he  appeared  as  the  chief  of  the  greatest  Indian  Alliance  ever, 
known. 


Joseph  Brant.— ^Tayendanagea.^l. 
He  adhered    to  the   British  government  during  the  war,  and 
after  the  Treaty  of  Peace  in  which  no  provision  was  made  for  his 
people,    he    struggled    hard    to    retain    what    they  had    formerly 
possessed.      But    the  great    heritage  was  lost.     In  the    national 
struggles  for  territory  the  rights  of  the  Si.K  Nations  were  almost 
wholly  lost  sight  of  and  the  self-sacrificing  exertions   of  Thayen- 
danegea  were  in  vain.     It  is  fair    to  say  that  doubtless  many  of 
the  early  tales  regarding  the  cruelties  practiced  by  this  chief  dur- 
ing the  war  are  bur  fabrications  or  at  best  gross  exaggerations  ' 
having  but   a  grain  of  truth  for   a  foundation.     At  the   close  of 
the   war,  he  retired    to  Canada,  and  spent  his  later  years  under 
the  protection  of  those  withwhom  he  had  made  a  common  cause. 
His  life  by  Col.  Stone,  a  work  of  singular  interest,  gives  a  full 
detail  of  his  career,  in  part  collected  in  his  old  neighborhood.     It 
is    published  by  Joel  Munsell's    Sons,   Albany.     See  Johnson's 
Orderly  Book"  page  196] 


CHAPTER    V. 

ADDITION  AT,    LETTERS.       THE    ARMAMENT     OF     THE     OLD 
FORT.       THE  NUMBER  AND  KIND  OF  GUNS  MOUNTED 
THERE.     WHERE  THEY  WERE  TAKEN.     INTEREST- 
ING OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE.      SEVERAL 
ITEMS    WORTH    READING. 


URING  his  somewhat  extended  researches 
after  some  definite  account  of  the  Old  Fort, 
and  the  occupation  of  Carleton  Island,  the  writer  has 
read  many  scores  of  old  letters,  consisting  mainly  of 
business  correspondence,  written,  first,  from  *'  Buck 
Island,"  in  1774,  then  from  ''  Deer  Island  "  as  has  been 
already  shown,  and  lastly  from  "Carleton  Island." 
These  letters  bear  the  dates  of  1774  and  succeeding 
years,  as  late  as  1782.  Some  of  these  letters  are  now 
in  the  writer's  possession,  and  will  be  given  a  place 
in  this  chapter. 

In  connection  with  this,  however,  the  attention  ot 
the  reader  is  called  to  a  fact  bearing  upon  the  ques- 
tion we  have  been  discussing.  It  is  this.  Mr. 
Francis  Goring,  in  his  letters  from  Niagara,  makes 

frequent  mention  of  "  the  Fort."     Naturally  enough, 

(80) 


OLD    FRONTIER    15LOCK    HOUSE. 


8i 


too,  because  there  was  a  fort  there  at  that  time;  and 
in  his  trading,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  officers, 
the  more  easily*  perhaps,  because  he  had  at  one  time 
been  a  clerk  for  the  Quarter  Master  General  himself; 
and  so  he  frequently  makes  mention  of  their  names, 
and  what  they  i)urc]iased. 


AN    OLD    I'RONTIER    BLOCK    HOLSE. 

On  the  other  hand,  none  of  the  letters  written  from 
"Buck  Island"  in  1774,  make  the  slightest  reference 
to  anything  like  a  stockade,  fort,  nor  even  a  block- 
house; nor  do  any  of  the  letters  make  any  mention 
whatever  of  any  fort  until  1779,  '80,  '81,  and  '82. 
The  reason  is  plain.     When  there  was  no   fort,  none 

G 


82  ADDiriONAL    LETTERS. 

was  mentioned  ;  but  as  soon  as  a  fort  was  built,  it 
was  perfectly  natural  to  refer  to  it.  The  next  letter 
we  insert  is  from  Mr.  Clunks,  written  the  next  day 
after  the  one  which  we  have  already  given.  Probably 
the  vessel  did  not  leave  until  the  next  day,  so  that  it 
gave  him  further  opportunity  to  write  to  his  fr'end 
Goring.  It  gives  us  a  quiet  glimpse  of  the  situation, 
and  details  a  bit  of  camp  gossip  which  will  be  appre- 
ciated by  an  old  soldier.     Here  is^the  extract: 

Carleton  Island^  March  25///,  1777. 
Sir. 

*  *  *  *  /  wrote  you  a  small  epistle  of  my 
life  since  I  parted  with  you,  but  were  ivc  to  7ncet  I  would 
surprise  you  to  tell  you  of  some  thin<^s^  and  make  you  Laugh 
at  Others.  I  mean  in  regard  to  Men  that  Come  out  with 
lis,  both  Artificiers  and  salors. 

Last  night  Doctor  Gill,  got Kicked  in  Com- 
pany by  Mr.  Morrison,  a  Merch't,  upon  which  insted  of 
'  resenting  it  went  to  the  Commanding  Officer  and  told  the 
Commanding  Officer  that  he  was  in  Dangour  of  his  life, 
upon  which  he  swore  his   life  against  Morrison^  and  ever 
since  Morrison  has  had  a  soldier  after  him  day  and  night, 
but  gets  ledve  to  walk  about^  and  is  a  prisoner  at  large. 
Ln  this  Confusion  has  the  Garrison  been  in^  all  this  luinter 
and  no   Officer   keeps   the  Commandants  company,  scarce, 
[scarcely]   except  a  certain   Watery  Hero,  and  a  piddlen 
prattling  Surgeon's  Mate  who  stiles  himself  a  Doctor,  and 


JOHN'    CLUNES    AGAIN.  '     83 

says  he  is  a   lu-ry  ^a^ood  one  if  he  had  dru^^es  \iirH^s\  hut 

being  so  much  engui^ed  with  the  Bcautys  of  this  Island  and 

almost  every   night  drunh,  forgot  to  send  in  due  season  to 

Canada  for  drui:ges,  so  that  three  parts  out  of  four  of  the 

men  is  sick  7vith  the  scurvy  and other  sicknesses,  *  *  * 

/  remain  your  friend  and  ivell  wisher  ^ 

JOHN  CLUNES. 

Clerk  and  Foreman, 
To  Mr.  GORING. 

The  truth  of  Mr.  Clunes's  letter  is  self-evident,  and 
the  life  of  a  soldier  on  Carleton  Island  more  than  a 
century  ago  did  not  differ  so  very  much  from  modern 
camp  life,  after  all.  The  next  letter  we  give  in  full. 
It  was  written,  as  will  be  seen,  by  James  Clark,  who 
was  a  Sergeant  Major  in  the  British  Army,  fiy  this, 
and  other  letters  which  we  have  seen,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Clark  had  been  sent  from  Niagara  to  Carleton 
Island  to  straighten  out  the  accounts  of  the  army  and 
navy  departments,  both  of  which,  it  seems,  had  fallen 
into  confusion,  owing  to  incompetent  accountanis, 
and  careless  officers. 

Dr.  Clark,  of  St.  Catharines,  Ontario,  one  of  the 
ablest  and  most  prominent  physicians  in  the  Domin- 
ion, is  a  grandson  of  the  writer  of  the  following 
letter. 

Carleton  Island,  loM  J^une,  1779. 
Sir. 

•  By  the  return  of  the  Seneca^  you  will  please  send 


84  ADDITK^NAl,    LETTERS. 

mr  two  Quires  of  your  /.ir^^est  poper^  and  c/iari^e  it  to  the 

Naital  Department.      I  am  safe  at  Carleton  Island^  hut 

not  yet  so  well  situated  as  J  icould  wish. 

We  are  repeatedly  alarmed  by  the  Enemy's  scouts^  who^ 

a  few  days  a^s^(\  took  away  tico  men  from  the  Island,  not 

one  hundred  yards  J  rom  the  P\)rt,  and  at  ten  o'cloek  in  the 

morning.      Uf  the  7^'hole  of  last  ni^ht  by  alarms. 

I  am.  Sir,   Vours,  d-r., 

JAMES  CLARK. 
Mr.  F.  GORING. 

Niagara. 
Mr.  Clark's  Regiment  was  the  "  King's  8tii  Regi- 
ment of  Foot,"  and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
regiments  in  the  British  Army,  It  was  organized  in 
1685,  and  was  in  tlie  battle  ol  the  Boyne,  and  in  the 
sieges  of  Limerick,  Dublin,  and  Kinsale.  It  served 
in  the  Netherlands,  Ireland,  and  Holland.  It  was 
the  first  to  storm  the  citadel  of  Liege  in  1702,  and 
was,  in  fact,  in  all  the  prominent  operations  of  Eng- 
lish troops,  through  a  long  period  of  years.  It  was 
assigned  to  the  Canadian  frontier  in  1777.  It  helped 
to  capture  Martinique  in  1809,  and  distinguished  it- 
self in  181 2,  in  numerous  engagements.  In  fact 
the  regiment  held  deservedly  high  rank  among  the 
best  regiments  in  the  British  service.  To  have  reached 
the  highest  non-commissioned  rank  in  a  regiiTient 
possessing  the  record  of  the  King's  8th,  was  an  honor 
to  be  proud  of. 


FORT    HAI.DIMAM). 


>J 


Dr.  Canniff,  in  hi^  *'  History  of  the  Settlement  of 

Upper   Canada,"  published    at   Toronto    in    1869,  is 
evidently  in  error  as  to  date,  when   he  says  that  Mr. 


86  ADDITIONAL  LETTERS. 

Clark  was  appointed  "  Clerk  and  Naval  Storekeeper 
at  Carleton  Island  in  1776."  It  should  have  read  1779. 
Dr.  Canniff  further  says: 

"  TJiis  Afilitary  Post  afforded  a  retreat  for  the  rejfugees 
ivho  fled  from  the  Afohaick  Valley.  '  yays  Treaty  of 
Peaee^  found  Carleton  Island  oecnpied  by  the  84//'  Pegi- 
nie?it,  a  body  of  Highlanders  levied  in  the  Carolinas.,  and 
subsequently  adopted  into  the  line.  Of  on  the  erection  of  the 
northern  line  of  the  United  States,  Carleio)i  Island  eanie 
within  the  boundary  of  the  State  of  A'ew  York;  hut  it 
eontinucd  in  common  li'ith  other  military  fosts,  in  possession 
of  the  British  until  1796.  Indeed,  it  re?nained  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  until  1812,  ^uhen  the  Americans  crossed 
and  seized  a  Sergeant's  guard  there." 

Again  Dr.  Canniff  says: 

"  Ilie  Rebellion,  \7ncaning  the   ivar  of  the  Revoluiion^ 

led  to  the  establish?nent  of  a  Military  Po'^t  at  the  Island  of 

Cn  oereaux,  or    Goat  Island,  subsequently  named  Carleton 

Island.  This  position  was  fou  'id  more  convenie?it  than  the 
site  of  Fort  Frontenac.     After  the  defeat  of  Burgoyne  in 

1777,  there  7i>ere  many  refugees  who  soug/it  protection   at 

the  military  posts  along  the  northern  frontier  of  New  Yorky 

that  of  Carleton  Island  anions;  the  rest.''    '(  ."    <  s?  '  *'     *'~"'     '^  '^ 

'■'■During  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  British  built  at 
Carleton  Island  a  few  vessels  to  convey  troops  and  provis- 
ions from  that  place  along  the  lake,  from  Carleton  Island 
to  Niagara.     The  first  Commissioner  of  the  Dock-yard,  was 


FRANCIS    C;ORING    TO    HIS    UNCLE.  87 

Commodore  yames  Andrews^  Lieutenant  in  the  Royal 
Navy.  The  Ontario^  a  ivar  vrsse/  of  considerable  impor- 
tance^ carrying  22  guns,  nuis  built  at  Carleton  Island. 
This  vessel  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Andrews^.  Some  time 
between  1780,  and  1783,  as  the  Ontario  loas  proceeding 
from  N'iagara  to  Oswego^  7vith  a  detachment  of  the  King's 
Own  Regiment^  commanded  by  Colonel  Burton  with  other 
officers^  a  storm  arose  at  night  and  the  vessel  tvas  lost  with 
all  on  board.'' 

Just  at  this  point,  W/C  take  the  liberty  to  introduce 
an  extract  of  a  letter  before  us,  written  by  Mr.  Francis 
Goringto  hii- uncle  in  London,  in  which  he  mentions 
tiie  loss  of  this  vessel,  although  Mr.  Goring  and  Dr. 
Canniff  slightly  disagree  in  some  points.  We  c;ive 
only  that  part  Avhich  speaks  of  the  vessel. 

\  Niagara.,  August  1,  1781. 

Dear  Uncle.  =»••  -k  *  *  ^^  ^,^,y  malancholy  misfor- 
tune happened  nigh  here  last  fall.  On  the  T^ist  Oct. 
[1780]  a  N'ew  Vessel  called  the  Ontario  sailed  from  here 
in  the  afternoon.,  and  about  1  2  O'clock  at  N'ight  a  violent 
storm  arose  in  which  the  vessel  was  lost  and  every  soul  on 
board  Perish' d  in  number  about  1  2c,  a?nong  which  was  Lt. 
Col.  Bolton.,  a  ho  commanded  this  post.,  Lt.  Collerton.,^  of 
Artillery.,  LJ.  Royce  of  the  -r^^th  RegP.  About  a  iveek  ago 
six  of  the  Corps\corpses\  was  picked  up  about  1  2  miles  from 
here  and  buried.,  which  is  all  that  has  ever  been  seen.  This 
7vas  the  Jinest  scoic  that  ever  sailed  these  Lakes  and  Carried 


88  ,  ADDITION  AT,   LETTERS. 

Upward  of  ci  tJioiisand  Barrels.  ]Ve  have  none  but  Indian 
neivs  here.,  Kdwse  barbarity  ivilhud  bear  repeating.  '*'  '''  ''^  * 
'  Tis   said  that  Gent.  Haldiuiand  is  voiri'^  on  an  exN-dition 

to  join and  l>iin\^  off  Alien. 

J  am  Dear  Uncle  7vitJi  all  Respect 
Your  obedient  Nephew, 

F.  GORING. 

Wiiether  this  could  have  meant  a  second  attempt 
.  to  capture  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  we  iiave  no  ^means  of 
knowing.  In  connection  with  tlie  loss  of  the  Ontario, 
it  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  while  gathering 
items  regarding  these  matters,  the  writer  was  told  by 
a  Mr.  Pike  who  resides  on  Wolfe  Island, — known  as 
"  Grand  Isle  "  in  early  days, — that  there  lies  in  Reed's 
Bay,  at  the  head  of  the  Island,  in  about  forty  feet  of 
water,  the  wreck  of  a  large  vessel ;  and  that  tishermen 
have  frequently  brougiit  up  muskets  and  bayonets 
from  the  wreck,  many  of  which  he  has -seen.  Mr. 
Pike  stated  that  he  liad  often  seen  the  wreck  when 
the  water  was  still.  He  stated  further,  that  his 
brother  once  saw  an  anchor  at  or  near  the  extremity 
of  "  Long  Point ;  "  one  of  the  old  kind,  with  a  wooden 
stock,  and  that  the  chain  cable  attached  seemed  to 
lead  off  towar  '  the  bight  of  the  bay.  If,  as  Mr. 
Goring's  letter  nfers,  the  Ontario  was  bound  for 
Carleton  Island,  what  is  more  probable  than  that  in 
the  night   and   during  a  severe  storm  she  ran  out  of 


WRECK    OF    THE    ONTARIO.  '  89 

her  course,  and  foundered  in  Reed's  Bay  ?  Should 
the  wreck  Mr.  Pike  speaks  of  prove  to  be  the  Ontario 
it  would  be  something  of  a  find,  especially  as  she  was 
armed  with  22  guns.  A  little  time  spent  by  a  skill- 
ful diver  with  a  suitable  apparatus,  would  fully  test 
the  question,  and  bring  to  light  some  very  interesting 
relics  of  more  than  a  century  ago. 

From  an  order  book  of  1779,  in  an  entry  made  on 
the  14th  of  May,  we  learn  some  additional  particulars. 
The  entry  in  question  details  the  duties  of  the  en- 
gineers and  "  Artificiers  "  and  provides  for  the  usual 
duties  of  a  military  encampment.  There  was  tlien  a 
strong  "picket"  posted  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
Island,  and  it  w^as  ordered  that  a  sharp  lookout  be 
kept  for  the  rebels  who  were  lurking  in  that  vicinity. 
This  order  was  issued  by  Captain  Aubrey,  then  in 
command  of  the  Post,  with  the  local,  or  field  rank  of 
Colonel.  This  "order  book  "^  is  in  possession  of 
Judge  Pringle  of  Cornwall,  Ontario,  who  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  Captain  Pringle^  so  favorably 
mentioned  in  the  General  Order  issued  by  Lieut. 
Gen.  Sir  Guy  Carieton,  extracts  from  which  we  have 
already  given. 

Dr.  Hough,  in  his  admirable  work  "  The  Thousand 
Islands  of  the  St.  Lawrence,"  page  52,  refers  to  this 
"Orderly  Book,"  and  gives  in  addition,  this  brief 
but    interesting    item,    which   also    recorded    in    the 


90 


ADDITIONAL  LETTERS. 


Clinton  papers  No.  2,285,  on  ^^c  in  the  State  Library 
at  Albany.  "  Early  in  the  spring  of  1779,  Lieutenants 
McClellan,  and  Hardenburg  of  the  5th  New  York 
Regiment,  were  sent  by  the  way   of  Black  River,  to 


FORT    HALDIMAND.  9 1 

surprise  the  British  Post  at  Oswegatchie.  [Ogdens- 
burg.]  Tliey  failed  to  accomplisli  their  purpose,  but 
succeeded  in  capturing  two  Onondaga  Indians,  of 
whom  they  gathered  the  following  facts  as  given  in 
their  own  words. 

"  That  the  last  -ceck  we  had  left  that  place  \Jhtck 
hland\  and  that  they  were  fortifying  themselves.  He  fur- 
ther saith  that '  the  garrison  consisted  of  Sir  j/^ohn  'yohn- 
so)is  Rfginie7it  making  iji  the  luJiole  not  more  than  200 
men.,  and  that  they  had  a  disorder  among  them  of  ichic/t 
they  died  very  fast,  and  that  no  other  reason  made  him 
and  some  others  leave  that  place."*  He  further  says  :  ''''that 
yesterday  Gen.  Haldimand's  aid-de-camp  passed  that  place 
ivith  orders  to  the  back  posts." 

We  are  further  indebted  to  Dr.  Hough  for  some 
additional  information  in  regard  to  the  Old  Fort 
which  appropriately  close  all  that  we  have  to  say  at 
present  on  that  question.  "In  178S,  Captain  Mann, 
at  that  time  Commanding  Engineer,  was  ordered  to 
examine  both  Carleton  Island  and  Kingston,  and 
report  as  to  which  was  most  eligible  as  a  station  for 
the  King's  ships,  and  the  protection  of  lake  naviga- 
tion and  what  works  were  necessary  for  that  purpose. 
He  reported  in  favor  of  the  latter,  and  from  that  time 
Carleton  Island  is  mentioned  as  the  place  that  ''  used 
to  be  of  note." 


92  ADDITIONAL  LETTERS. 

''On  the  i3tli  day  of  October,  1789,  there  were 
found  in  the  fort  eighteen  unserviceable  gun-car- 
riages, of  which  t^o  were  for  eighteen  pounders,  three 
for  twelves,  three  for  nines,  six  for  sixes,  and  four 
for  fours."  *  *  *  On  the  next  day  his  Majesty's 
Scow  Seneca,  was  ordered  to  'be  sent  around  to 
Carleton  Island  for  the  Ordnance,  and  Stores  at  that 
place.'" 

There  is  do  doubt  that  the  stores  were  removed  at 
that  date,  but  that  the  guns  were  not;  for  "  On  the 
loth  of  June,  1793,  nineteen  guns,  of  which  ten  were 
eighteens.  five  twelves,  two  nines,  and  two  sixes, 
were  described  as  being  still  in  the  works.  As  the 
iron  work  of  the  rotten  carriages  was  being  stolen, 
Capt.  Porter  ordered  them  to  be  burned  and  the  irons 
stored,  and  finally  in  August  of  that  year,  the  Mis- 
s/ssai/gi/a  was  sent  by  Capt.  Geo.  Glasgow,  of  the 
Royal  Artillery  to  remove  these  guns,  and  some 
others  from  Kingston  to  Toronto. 

The  following  correspondence  in  regard  to  the 
armament  of  the  Old  Fort,  will  also  prove  interest- 
ing. It  may  be  found  in  the  second  volume  of  the 
Simcoe  papers,  page  136. 

Lieut.  Got.  Sifiicoe^  of  Upper  Canada  to  Lieut.  Gov. 
Alured  Clarke  of  Lower  Canada., 

Navy  Ilall^  yiine  \']th.,  1793- 
'"***'/  enclose  a  return  of  the  cannon  at  Carleton 


ARMAMENT    OF    THE    FORT.  Q^ 

Island.  Those  \  8  pounders  reported  to  he  sunk  are  no- 
where to  be  found.  IVie  guns  are  alt  marked  as  unserviee- 
able^  and  the  carriages  are  so  rotten,  that  agreeable  to  the 
Ordnance  Instructions,  as  people  are  stealing  the  iron, 
Capt.  Porter  has  ordered  them  to  be  burnt  and  the  iron 
conveyed  into  the  store  ;  but  as  Capt.  Glasgow  is  of  the 
opinion  that  many  of  these  Jieavy  cannon  may  be  so  mounted 
at  Toronto,  as  to  be  useful  at  that  Post,  and  as  I  wish  to 
avail  myself  of  the  ixperience  of  this  valuable  Officer 
ivhilst  J  have  the  good  fortune  to  possess  hivi  in  this  Prov- 
ince, I  must  request  that  Your  Excellency  will  permit  me 
to  transfer  so  many  of  them  as  shall  be  expedient,  to  that 
place.'' 

Gen.  Alured  Clarke,  to  Gov.  Simcoe. 

Quebec,  yuly'^th,  179;^ 

"  The  report  you  enclosed  of  the  guns  at  Carleton  Island 
has  been  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Walker,  commanding  the  Royal  Artillery,  who  declines 
recommending  the  pirttifig  iu  use  ordnance  which  has  been 
so  long  looked  upon  as  being  unserviceable,  lest  some  acci- 
dent might  be  the  result  of  their  being  employed.  However, 
if  you  are  upon  further  consideration  of  this  matter,  still 
desirous  for  having  some  of  them  removed  for  the  purpose 
you  mention,  I  do  acquiesce  in  your  ordering  it  to  be  done.'' 

"  /  must  here  take  notice  that  though  I  am  persuaded 
Capt.  Porter's  motives  were  good,  for  ordering  the  rotten 
gun  carriages  destroyed,  and  the  iron  brought  into  store. 


94  ADDITIONAL  LETTERS. 

yet  this  step  ivas  rather  premature^  as  it  loould  have  been 
more  regular  and  conforjuablc  to  the  Board  of  Ordnance^ 
to  hai'e  applied  for  a  survey^  and  their  dcstruition  delayed 
until  orders  were  sent  for  tJiat  purposed 

Lieut,  Gov.  Simcoe  to  Gen.  Clarke. 

Naiy  Hall.,  j^'^b'  24//^  1793. 

"/  shall  i?n mediately  proceed  to  Toronto.  (York)., 
7vhither  I  hope  the  whole  of  the  Queen's  Rangers  will  be 
encamped  in  a  few  days,  whe)i  I  shall  do  myself  the  honor 
of  making  a  more  specific  report  on  the  subject  of  fortifying 
that  harbor.  Its  extent,  and  the  difficulty  any  enemy  must 
have  of  bringing  heavy  cannon  or  Howitzers  into  the  Prov- 
ince., necessarily  points  out  t/ie  advantages  that  must  result 
fro7n  a  few  guns  of  the  largest  calibre.  The  carronades 
meant  for  the  shipping,  I  have  always  purposed  to  make 
use  of,  and  my  intention  has  been  to  select  some  of  the  best 
gufis  from  Garleion.  Island,  that  at  the  leasT expense  we 
may  fnake  the  most  formidable  resistance.'' 

Lieut.  Gov.  Simcoe  to  Ge?i.  Clarke. 

York,  August  2nd,  1793. 

"  /  apprehend  Capt,  Porter  must  have  executed  sofne 
former  oraer,  as  it  is  merely  from  the  Artillery  through 
Captain  Crlasgow,  that  I  have  as  yet  received  any  accounts 
of  his  having  destroyed  the  carriages  at  Carleton  Island, 
<ind  which  has  been  rather  unseasonable  to  my  view." 

LETTER    FROM    <\\HT.    GEORGE    GLASGOW. 

York,  .August  dth,  1793. 
f*'  Sir,  His  Excellency  Colonel  Simcoe,  hat'^'s^  directed  the 


ARMAMENT    OF    THE    FORT.  95 

MississAUGUA    to   proceed  from  hence  to   Kingston  and 
Carleton  Island  in  order  to  return  here  with   the   utmost 
expedition  after  receiving  on  board  the  cannon,  carronades, 
carriages,  etc.,  together  with  a  non-commissioned  officer  and 
eight  gunners,  concerning  which  Captain    Glasgoiv,   Com^ 
r.  binding  the  Royal  Artillery  has  given  the  necessary  orders 
to  the  corporal  in  charge  of  stores,  or  that  corps  at  that 
port,  I  am  to  desire  that  this  arrangement  may  take  place 
as  soon  as  possible,  for  which  purpose  J  enclose  to  you  a 
copy  of  the  memorandum,  of  guns  and  carronades,  which 
Capt.   Glasgow,   with    his    Excellency's    approbation,    has 
ordered  to  be  transported  to  York. 

MEMORANDUM    OF   OUNS,    ETC. 

1 8  pdr,  carronades  6  at  Kingston. 
12     "  "  lo    "  " 

Swivels  2,  for  the  new  gun  boat. 
Unserviceable  i8  pdr.  guns  6,  Carleton  Island. 
"  12      ''       "      6,  "  " 

A'.  B.  The  carronade  carriages  with  the  1 8  and  1 2  pd. 
shot  at  Kingston  to  be  serit  at .  .c  same  time,  and  likewise  the 
party  must  bring  with  them,  three  tents,  a  camp  kettle,  and 
a  month'* s  provisions. 

Toronto  (now  York)  6th  August^  1793. 

GEORGE  GLASGO  W, 
Capt.  Comd'g  the  Royal  Artillery. 
E.  B.  LITTLEHALES. 

'  Lieutenant  Collerton,  was  under  St.  Leger,  inrhis  disastrous 
attack  on  Fort   Stanwix,  snd   had  entire  charge  of  the  artillery. 


96  ADDITIONAL  LETTKRS. 

He  is  ficfuicnily  mentioned  in  General  Orders,  especially  after 
tije  troops  of  the  expedition  reach  "  Huck," — now  Carleton  Is- 
laiwl.     [Sec  Johnson's  Orderly  Book,  pages  3i-8o.] 

•  This  Orderly  Hook  also  speaks  of  the  fort,  and  designates  it 
as  "  Fort  Ilaidiinand,"  which  it  is  highly  probable  it  was  named  ; 
the  island  from  one  Governor  General,  and  the  fort  from  his  suc- 
cessor.    It   further  speaks  of  James  Clark  as  being  the  Military 
and    Naval  Stc^rekeeper,    and    one   of    his    "clerks   as    "James 
Clones. "     Probably  the  brother,  whom  John  Clunes  mentions  as 
having  escaped  with  him  from  the  surprise  on  the  "  Mount." 

^  Capt.  Thomas  Pringle  came  from  an  old  Scotch  family,  many 
of  whose  members  attained  high  and  honorable  positions.  He 
was  a  great  grandson  of  Sir  Robert  Pringle,  FK^rt.,  of  the  house 
of  Stitchel,  and  the  only  son  of  Walter  Pringle,  an  eminent  West 
India  merchant  and  planter  in  St.  Kill's  who  married  a  Miss 
Liderdale. 

In  1776,  Capt.  Pringle  commanded  the  armed  sliip  Lord 
Kowe,  and  in  September  of  that  year  he  was  put  in  command  of 
the  British  squadron  on  Lake  Champlain.  On  Oct.  13  he  signally 
defeated  the  American  fleet  under  Benedict  Arnold,  capturing 
and  destroying  a  number  of  vessels,  and  forcing  the  remainder  to 
take  refuge  under  the  guns  of  Crown  Point.  He  sailed  to  Europe 
as  a  bearer  of  dispatches  in  November,  and  the  same  month  he 
was  made  a  post  captain.  In  January,  1777,  Captain  Pringle  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  a  new  vessel,  the  Ariadne,  with 
which  he  joined  the  West  India  fleet,  and  was  attached  to  Rear 
.Admiral  Barrington's  fleet  at  the  Leeward  Isles.  The  Ariadne 
took  many  prices,  and  participated  in  many  hard  fought  engage- 
ments. In  1786  Captain  Pringle  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  Daedalus,  a  new  ship  of  32  guns  with  which  he  joined  the 


NOJES    AND    COMMENTS. 


97 


American  fleet  under  Vice    Admiral  Arbuthnot.  in    1781-2      He- 
became   captain    of  the  Royal  George.    100  guns,   in   1790,    and 
in  1704  be  became  Colonel  of  his  "Majesty's   Marine  Forces," 
and    bore   a   distinguished    part   in    Lord    Howe's   victory  over 
the   French  t^eet    oir   L shunt,  for   which  he    received  a    n.edal 
He  was  made  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Blue  in  1705.      February  M.h. 
1799.  he  was  promoted  to  he  a  Vice  Admiral  of  the   White,  and 
on   January  ist.  1801    to   be  Vice-Admiral   of  the    Red       After  a 
busy  and    successful    life   in   his  chosen   profession,  he   died   at 
Edinburuh,  December  8th,  1S03. 


H 


CHAPTER  VI 


MORE     "OLD     LETTERS        MORE     OR      LESS     INTERESTLNO. 

VARIOUS    MATTERS    OK    INTEREST     CONCERNING 

CARLETON    ISLAND. 


)0  far  as  the  main  object  of  our  little   book  is 
concerned,  it  is  fairly  accomplished  ;  but  there 

are  other  items  of  interest  to  the  general  reader,  and 
especially  to  the  tourist,  which  are  worthy  of  preser- 
vation, and  therefore  we  consign  them  in  this  place, 
to  the  "art  preservative." 

Some  of  the  old  letters  which  we  now  take  the 
liberty  to  introduce,  serve  to  give  us  an  insight  into 
the  ways  of  a  century  ago,  mucl\  better,  than  could 
the  most  accurate  historical  writer.  Indeed,  some 
prominent  writer  has  said,  that  "the  best  possible 
evidence  which  is  to  be  had,  of  any  previous  condi- 
tion of  things,  is  that  of  a  private  correspondence 
between  individuals,  for  the  reason  that  they  areJ 
entirely  innocent  of  any  intent  to  write  for  the  future ; 
hence  what  they  do  write,  may,  so  far  as  local  matters 

are  concerned,  be  fully  relied  upon. 

(1)8) 


FROM    MR.    HAMILTON.  99 

Therefore,  while  these  old  letters  are  by  no  means 
full  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  reader,  there  "crops 
out "  now  and  then  some  little  item  of  reference  to 
matters  of  historical  import,  that  will  not  fail  to 
attract  his  attention;  and  if  for  no  other  reason, 
because  they  are  the  connecting  links  which  unite 
us  to  tlie  "long  ago."  The  originals  of  the  letters 
and  extracts  which  follow,  are  now  in  possession  of 
the  writer,  and  are  curiosities  in  their  way. 

The  first  one  which  we  give  is  written  to  Mr. 
Goring,  by  a  Mr.  Hamilton  who  seems  to  have  taken 
Cunningham's  place  on  the  Island.  We  give  his 
letter  in  full. 

Carleton  Island^  25  March^  1780. 
Dear  Goring  : 

As  I  ivould  not  7i.nsli  to  pass  an  opportunity  of 
writings  I  embrace  this  tho'  it  has  no  great  Chance  of 
reaching  you,  before  the  Vessel.  Shutt  up  from  all  Com^ 
munication  ivith  the  rest  of  the  Worlds  you  cannot  expect 
that  this  Barren  Island  will  afford  great  Matter  of  Epis- 
tolary  entertainment.  I  have  spent  a  very  idle,  tho'  in 
other  respects  not  a  very  uncomfortable  winter.  Plenty  to 
eat  and  Drink,  and  a  good  deal  of  other  Amusements  have 
made  the  ivinter  pass  pretty  pleasantly. 

About  eight  days  ago,  zi>e  had  an  express  from  Canada, 
being  the  first  intelligence  of  any  kind  this  winter.     By  it 


100  MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 

we  have  the  story  you  will  now  hear  from  the  Papers  and 
Letters  of  the  Destruction  of  a  considerable  pat  t  D'Estaing's 
•  fleet  by  Biron,  and  of  their  being  repulsed  7uith  great  loss 
in  attempting  to  land  in  Georgia.  IVie  Authenticity  of  this 
Story  Depends  on  the  Veracity  of  a  German  OJficer  who 
was  sent  to  Albany  with  a  flag  of  truce  and  was  seen  there 
by  one  of  our  spies  from  Canada^  who  is  since  came  in. — 
What  Share  of  Credit  it  merits^  I  will  not  pretend  to  say. 
It  is  however y  by  the  best  accounts  believed  in  Canada. 

With  regard  to  my  own  motions  if  nothing  extraordinary 
interferes  I  will  not  see  my  Niagara  friends  *till  the 
second  trip  of  the  Haldimand,  At  that  time  I  hope  to  send 
up  everything  now  under  my  charge  here.  I  7uill  endeavor 
if  possible  to  send  our  icine  by  the  first ,  that  it  may  get  on 
as  fast  as  possible.  On  this  however^  I  cannot  promise.,  as 
there  ar^oo  Barrels  of  Provisions  and  loo  ?nen  of  the 
Ty\th  to  come  up  at  that  time. 

Our  new  Vessel  here  will  be  launched  as  soon  as  the  ice 
is  gotie  and  will  be  able  to  make  a  trip  with  the  Haldi- 
mand  when  she  returns  from  the  first.  She  will  be  a  ftoble 
vessel  for  size  as  she  will  hold  near  a  thousand  Barrels. 
'  Make  my  Comp's  to  Cunningham.  As  the  Express  is  just 
goifig,  I  have  not  time  to  ivrite  him  but  7vill  by  the  VesseL 

Remember  me  also  to \torn  out]  with  the  same  assur-  ■ 

ances  to  other  inquiring  friends. 

With  sincerity  Dear  Goring.,  yourSy  ^c, 

R.HAMILTON. 


FROM    MR.    HAMILTON.  lOI 

What  a  contrast  between  the  Carleton  Island  of 
to-day,  and  that  of  one  hundred  and  nine  years  ago 
next  month.  To-day,  the  island  is  practically  the 
first  in  the  great  Archipelago  of  the  Thousand  Islands 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  as  the  tourist  passes  down 
the  channel,  and  in  the  watering  season  and  during 
the  months  of  navigation,  the  crumbling  chimneys  of 
the  Old  Fort  look  down  from  their  rocky  heights, 
upon  the  great  passenger  steamers  which  go  speeding 
by,  or  touch  at  the  island  wharf,  while  yacht,  and 
schooner,  and  barge  and  propeller,  with  sail  and 
steam  enliven  the  scene,  and  the  shriek  of  the  loco- 
motive is  reechoed  from  its  limestone  cliffs,  and 
wooded  groves. 

Then,  it  was  months  ere  the  war  news  reached  them, 
and  it  was  uncertain  at  that.  The  scene  of  conflict 
had  shifted  to  the  South,  and  the  Carolinas  and 
Georgia  had  become  the  theatre  of  war.  Marion  and 
Sumpter,  and  a  host  of  partisans  were  keeping  alive 
the  fires  of  patriotism,  while  up  here,  the  bulletins 
miglit  have  been  headed  day  by  day,  had  such  a  thing 
as  a  daily  bulletin  been  known  :  "  All  quiet  "  on  the 
St.  Lawrence ! 

The  next  letter  is  from  Mr.  Goring  at  Niagara  to 
Mr.  Cruikshank,  formerly  a  fellow  clerk  with  him  on 
the  island,  but  at  this  time  in  Montreal. 


I02  MOKE    OLD    LETTERS. 

Niagara,  zist  Noi'.,  lyjS. 
Dr.  Sr. 

I  this  day  received  your  kitui  favor  by  Mr.  Cart- 
wright.  The  things  came  all  safe  to  hand  except  one  of 
the  Hangers,  \ii  short  heavy  sabre, — Ed^  7vhich  ituis  broke 
at  the  guard  which  I  am  affraid  J  shall  he  obliged  to 
return  with  some  of  the  high-priced  ye^vellery  there  being 
no  vent  for  them  here.  All  the  Indian  works  I  have  dis- 
poned of  to  Col.  Butler,  with  all  the  low-priced  yewellety. 
— we  would  have  taken  a  great  deal  more  had  they  been  in 
the  Indian  way.  The  Hanger  icith  the  White  Ivory 
handle  he  has  likewise  taken  for  his  oiun  use.  I  am 
extremely  sorry  that  I  could  not  dispose  of  the  whole  but  I 
living  with  Mr.  Robinson,  it  perhaps  would  not  be  thought 
well  in  me  to  dispose  of  them  by  way  of  retail  in  his  shop. 
I  have  here  inclosed  an  order  for  some  mere  Indian 
works  which  I  have  ingaged  to  furnish  Messrs  Bcnnct  &' 
Ridley,  Merchants,  and  am  promised  payment  for  them  as 
soon  as  delivered  here,  one  of  them  staying  here  'till  next 
Spring — should  have  written  to  you  sooner  but  waited  for 
an  opportunity  to  send  the  things  doivn  which  I' have  left  on 
hand,  but  cannot  this  being  the  last  trip  the  Vessels  are  to 
make  this  year.  By  the  tvinter  express  you  may  expect  a 
bill  ivhich  I  hope  will  counter  balance  those  which  I  have 
already  received.  The  things  which  I  have  mentioned  in 
the  order,  I  hope  you  will  get  ready  to  come  up  by  the  first 
boats — and  by  some  careful  hand — Mr.  Macomb'^  had  his 


FROM    MR.    GORINO.  IO3 

silver  works  stolen  out  of  the  boats  at  Carleton  Island  by 
Indians,  but  pursuing  them,  got  the  best  part  of  them  back 
— mine  had  very  near  shared  the  same  fate  they  being  in  the 
boat  with  his. 

I  am  dear  Sr  luishing  you  an  agreeable  IVinter  Your 
most  Humble  Servt. 

Mr,  R.  Cartwright,  F.  G. 

It  would  seem  by  this  time  that  even  the  British 
themselves  were  not  particularly  enamored  of  their 
Indian  allies,  especially  when  they  became  thievish, 
and  their  "  barbarity  "  would  not  bear  repeating.  It 
IS  not  to  be  wondered  at  however,  when  from  many 
sources  we  hear  of  the  drunken  orgies  held  by  the 
Indians  on  Carleton  Island. 

But,  "  Like  causes  produce  like  effects  ";  and  from 
that  time  to  this,  there  has  been  no  instance  where 
the  whites,  corning  in  contact  with  the  untutored  red 
man  of  the  forest,  has  failed  to  reduce  the  red  man  to 
his  own  level.  As  between  »he  man  of  civilization 
and  him  of  the  forest,  it  has  always  been  the  worse 
for  the  savage.  Before  the  French  and  the  English 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  Six  Nations,  they 
were  a  powerful  Confederation,  honest  and  upright 
in  their  transactions,  lovers  of  right  and  justice,  and 
determined  foes  of  oppression.  Unless  encroached 
upon,  they  were  peaceably  inclined,  and  practised 
many  of  the  arts  of  civilization.     But  in  an  evil  day 


104 


MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 


they  shook  hands  vviili  a  christian  civilization, and  in 
so  short  a  time  they  had  become  thieves  and  drunk- 
ards, and  when  drunk, — demons. 


FRO\f    MR.    JOHN    URgUHART.  105 

In  the  midst  of  scenes  like  this,  however,  the  of- 
ficers of  the  army  and  other  gentlemen  whose  busi- 
ness or  pleasure  kept  them  thus  far  beyond  the 
borders  of  civilization,  did  not  intend  to  be  wholly 
deprived  of  some  of  the  amenities  of  life  especially  if 
music  be  reckoned  among  them,  as  a  perusal  of  the 
following   brief  letter   will    show.     It   may  be  that 

these  gentlemen  were  firm  believers  in  the  sentiment 
that : 

"  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast  "— 
and  thought  it  a  suitable  time  and  place  to  test  its 
truthfulness. 

A  friend,  after  reading  the  following  letter,  sug- 
gested that  judging  from  the  sale  of  violins,  it  must 
have  been  very  near  that  locality  in  which  fiddlers 
are  popularly  supposed  to  be  very  thick.  But  here 
is  the  letter. 

^.^  Carleton  Island,  yan.  9,  1783. 

I  hai'e  sentyou  the  strings  wanted  and  also  the 
name  of  each  that  has  got  the  vtoiins. 

Capt  Andrus  Bradt,  \  at  j£^. 

Lieut,  yohn  Bradt,  i   "      5, 

Doctor  McCarlin,  r  ««       c 

£  Armstrongs  i   <»     12 

IV.  B.  Sheehain,  i   "     12. 

The  latter  had  the  Honour  Conferred  on  him  a  few 
nights  ago  to  Join  our  Antient  Fraternity  ndth  four  more  in 


io6 


MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 


< 
c 

■< 


< 
Q 

(xl 


H 


O 

o 

U 
H 


O 

M 

•< 


FROM    MR.   CLARK.  IO7 

one  night,     Mr,  Street  desires  you  to  send  down  the  stones 

promised  him  for  the  kitchen  hearth, 

I  am  yours  ^'Cy 

..      _        .   ^     .  JOHN  URQUHART. 

Mr,  Francis  Goring. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  Masonic  Lodge 
hinted  at  in   the  foregoing,  was   the  fi/st  one  ever 
organized  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Jefferson 
County.     It  seems  to  have  been  a  prosperous  Lodge^ 
too,  from  the  fact  that  they  conferred  a  degree  upon 
five  in  one  night.     One  more  brief  letter  from  Carle- 
ton  Island  will  close  the  list,  further  than  that  it  is 
our  present  intention  to  insert  a  fac-simiie  of  a  letter 
now  before  us,  by  way  of  illustration.* 

Carleton  Island,  Wi  May,  1782. 
Z>ear  Sir  ; 

I  never  knew  a  Cockney  so  positively  silent  as  you 
are.     I  have  never  been  favored  with  a  point  from  your  pen 
neither  last  nor  this  year.      What  can   be  the  reason.     I 
thought  that  we  could  allways  pool  one  rope   as  well  as 
Carry  one  Hod.     I  understand  that  you  are  doing  business 
for  Mr.  Taylor.     Mr.  Cunningham  as  he  went  down  last 
fall  presented  me  with  two  acc't's,  one  public,  the  other  my 
private  one.      There  appears  some  error  in  them  both  and  I 
shall  send  them   up  for  Correction,      When  that  is  done 
shall  pay  the  full  contents. 


*  This  was  by  sonio  mistake  overlooked.— Ed. 


io8 


MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 


No  news  of  Consc'juence  from  the  seat  of  ivar.     The 

General  is  expected  tip  soon. 

Very^siucerely  yours 

JAMES  CLARK, 
Mr.  Goring. 

On  another  page,  will  be  found  a  fac-simile  of  the 
address  ot  an  old  letter  now  in  possession  of  the  anno- 
tator  of  this  volume,  on  which  tlie  ink  is  as  black  and 
glossy  as  if  written  yesterday,  notwithstanding  it  was 
written  in  1782. 

There  are  many  descriptions  of  the  Old  Fort  extant, 
and  although  very  much  in  error  as  to  the  outlines 
of  the  work,  the  late  Dr.  Hough,  is  entitled  to  the 
credit  of  having  been  the  most  accurate  both  in 
plan  and  description.  In  fact  Dr.  Hough,  followed 
the  plan  sketched  by  the  late  Col.  F.  R.  Hassler, 
which  though  evidently  drawn  somewhat  hurriedly 
is  much  superior  to  any  which  have  been  published 


PLAN   OF  THE  OLD   FORT. 


4 
1>ESCR1PTI<)N    OF     THE    OLD    FORT.  IO9 

since.  Indeed  a  sketch  of  tlie  fortifications,  as  they 
appear  in  a  late  History  of  Jefferson  County  pub- 
lished a  few  years  since  by,  as  I  am  told,  a  Philadel- 
phia house,  are  grossly  inaccurate. 

The  outline  sketch  here  given,  is  from  a  survey 
recently  made  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Strowger  of  Cape  Vin- 
cent, whose  map  of  that  portion  of  Carleton  Island  is 
not  only  accurate  but  artistic.  From  his  measure- 
ments the  writer  drew  the  ground  plan,  which  is 
perfectly  accurate  in  outline,  as  well  as  section,  and 
made  the  attempt  at  a  restoration,  which  is  of  course 
only  an  approach  to  the  actual  appearance  of  the 
fort  when  first  built.  It  is  of  course  easy  to  locate 
the  exact  situation  of  the  barracks  by  chimneys  yet 
standing,  and  by  the  ruins  of  those  which  have  fallen, 
so  that  the  cut,  however,  inartistically  drawn  will 
serve  to  aid  the  imagination  in  picturing  to  the  mind 
its  former  appearance.  The  view  restored  is  made 
from  inside  the  glacis  opposite  the  north  salient 
looking  south. 

As  elsewhere  stated,  the  fort  occupied  three- 
eighths  of  an  octagon,  extending  from  the  cliff  on, 
which  it  was  built,  and  facing  southwest.  The  rear 
was  protected  by  a  rampart  of  earth,  a  ditch,  an  outer 
parapet  of  stone,  and  in  all  probability,  a  strong 
abatis  at  the  foot  of  the  glacis.  In  the  center  of 
each  face  of  the  rampart  midway  between  the  salients 


no 


MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 


was  a  strong  bastion  calculated  to  mount  four  guns. 
There  are  three  of  these  bastions. 


re 


V) 


■  ■•     rt 


^     «• 


<v 


'-^ 


The'ditch  was  cut  in  the  limestone  rock  which  here 
lies  in  regular  strata  varying  in  thickness  from  two 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    FORT.  Ill 

to  five  inches,  to  a  depth  of  nearly  five  feet,  and 
averaging  twenty-four  feet  wide.  The  scarp  was 
vertical,  and  was  protected  by  a  strong  cheveaux  de 
frize  of  cedar  posts,  pointed,  and  extending  horizon- 
tally about  four  feet  beyond  the  berm,  held  in  posi- 
tion by  the  earth  of  the  rampart. 

The  counterscarp  was  also  vertical,  and  beyond  it 
extended  a  covert  way,  about  the  same  width  of  the 
ditch.  The  outer  parapet  was  of  stone  about  four 
feet  in  height  without  a  batiquette^  and  the  glacis  ex- 
tended in  a  gentle  slope  of  several  rods,  terminating 
no  doubt  in  a  strong  abatis.*  The  parapet  and  glacis 
was  undoubtedly  built  of  the  stone  quarried  from  the 
ditch,  as  also  were  the  chimneys  for  the  barracks. 
There  are  no  evidences  to  show  that  the  ditch  was 
protected  by  curtains,  but  it  was  enfiladed  along  each 
angle  by  guns  in  the  bastions. 

The  rampart  was  a  strong  earthwork  with  ban- 
quette and  having  a  gun  mounted  at  a  point  between 
each  bastion  and  salient.  Judging  from  the  height 
of  the  parapet,  which  is  still  so  perfect  in  places  as 
to  be  accurately  measured,  the  earthwork  was  not 
less  than  seven  feet  in  height,  and  probably  more, 
and  of  proportionate  thickness.  The  guns  were  evi- 
dently mounted  en-barbette  and  protected  by  gabions. 

♦  A  letter  from  tho  assistant  engineer,  Lieut.  Glenuie,  to  Gen.  Ilaldi- 
mand,  in  1781,  refers  to  tho  abatis.— Ed. 


112  MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 

The  indications  are  that  a  sally-port  led  to  the  rear 
and  thence  to  the  covert-way  at  a  point  near  the  east 
salient.  There  were  evidently  strong  gates  at  oppo- 
site points  near  the  bluff,  from  the  tact  that  until 
within  a  few  years  the  timbers  which  supported  the 
bridges  over  the  ditch  were  to  be  seen,  and  in  fact 
one  or  two  of  them  were  in  place  to  within  a  period 
of  six  or  seven  years.  From  the  gates  roadways  led, 
one  down  to  the  peninsula  at  the  head  of  the  island, 
and  the  other  to  the  bank  of  the  river  to  the  north- 
west of  the  fort.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  cuts, 
several  of  the  old  chimneys  are  yet  standing,  while 
heaps  of  rubbish  clearly  indicate  where  others  stood. 
What  has  been  supposed  by  some  to  be  magazines  in 
the  face  of  the  clifi"  on  the  southwest,  were  evidently 
bomb-proofs. 

Just  how  the  front  of  the  fort  along  the  face  of  the 

cliff,   which  was  then  not   less   than    sixty   feet    in 

height, — though  now  much  crumbled  away, — was 
fortified  was  not  clear.     It  is  evident  that  a  strong 

stone  wall  lined  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  and  that  may 
have  been  reenforced  by  a  strong  stockade  and  earth- 
works, but  if  so  nothing  now  remains  to  show  it. 
It  is  plain,  however,  that  heavy  guns  covered  the 
peninsula  below  and  protected  the  stores,  shipyard,^ 
and  shipping,  and  there  was  abso  mounted  some  guns 
on   the  peninsula,  at  two  prominent  points  to  serve 


THE    LONE    CHIMNEY.  II3 

as  water  batteries.  The  well,  magazine  and  other 
points,  are  fairly  indicated,  and  a  chimney  yet  stands 
near  the  bank  of  the  river  northwest  of  the  fort, 
where  it  is  fairly  presumable  the  hospital  was  located. 


114  MORE    OLD    I-ETTERS. 

A  military  engineer  of  to-day  would  be  puzzled 
to  designate  the  system  after  which  this  fortification 
was  built.  The  bastions  are  evidently  after  Vauban's 
third  system,  but  vary  from  it  in  their  angles,  which 
are  nearer  those  of  Coehorn.  In  t'je  cont-truction  of 
the  parapet  Vauban  is  entirely  lost  sight  of,  while  the 
improved  system  of  Cormontaigne,  takes  its  place; 
in  other  points  it  would  seem  as  though  the  old  Eng- 
lish system  predominated.  The  probability  is,  that 
Lieut,  Twiss,  had  been  instructed  in  the  various  sys- 
tems then  in  vogue,  the  most  prominent  of  which  in 
his  time  were  Coehorn,  Vauban,  and  Cormontaigne, 
and  adapted  from  either  or  all  of  them  such  points  as 
he  saw  fit,  and  modified  them  to  suit  the  situation 
and  the  nature  of  the  ground  to  be  fortified,  and  the 
nature  and  extent  of  the  protection  required.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  the  work  itself  shows  that  it  was 
constructed  by  no  novice,  even  if  we  did  not  know 
as  we  now  do,  that  Lieut.  Twiss  was  General  Bur- 
goyne's  "  Chief  Engineer,"  and  afterwards  became,  as 
Lord  Cornwallis  expressed  it  several  years  later, 
"  The  best  we  have." 

The  only  criticism  to  be  fairly  made,  is  in  the  loca- 
tion of  the  fort  which,  looking  at  it  in  the  light  of  these 
days,  does  not  seem  to  have  warranted  the  trouble 
and  expense  of  construction.  As  a  defensive  point 
it  was  useless,  and  could  only  have  served  to  protect 


\ 


NOW    AND    THEN.  11) 

the  interests  immediately  under  its  guns.  It  was  of 
no  strategic  importance  whatever.  It  served  its  pur- 
pose, however,  and  it  was  admirably  chosen,  so  far  as 
certain  interests  were  concerned.  No  better  point 
for  the  building  of  vessels  and  gun  boats,  and  as  a 
stopping  place  for  tractirs  and  their  goods  on  the 
way  to  Niagara,  could  have  been  selected.  At  this 
point  the  change  took  place.  The  labored  trans- 
portation by  Durham  boats  and  battcaux  up  tjie 
ra>pids  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  from  Montreal,  ceased 
here,  and  vessels  took  it  up  unloading  again  at 
Niagara  river  to  the  *' carrying  place,"  where  Lewis- 
ton  now  stands. 

How  little  do  we  of  to-day,  realize  the  difficulties 
that  beset  the  pioneer  of  those  days.  W«  who  ride 
on  palace  cars,  over  the  "carrying  places,*'  or  plow 
the  same  waters  in  steamers  that  are  themselves 
palaces.  Think  for  a  moment  you  who  can  receive  a 
bill  of  goods,  in  a  few  iiours  from  New  York,  or  in  a 
few  days  from  London  or  Paris,  that  it  took  nearly  a 
year  to  send  for  and  receive  an  invoice  of  goods  at 
Carleton  Island  from  London.  Think  of  the  toil  to  get 
them  up  from  Montreal,  then  the  shipping  to  Niagara, 
then  by  boat  to  the  ''carrying  place,"  then  overland 
to  Lake  Erie,  and  then  another  long  voyage, — long 
for  those  days — to  Detroit,  and  on  to  Mackinaw. 
Verily  it  is  tiresome  to  think  of,  with  all   the  rush 


n6  MORE    OLD    LETTERS. 

and  stir  of  trade  around  us,  and  with  the  whirl  and 
turmoil  consequent  upon  a  watering  season  among 
the  Thousand  Islands  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river. 

Asa  fitting  close  to  this  cliapter,  which  has  dealt 
so  largely  upon  fortifications,  we  insert  the  follow- 
ing plan  and  brief  description  of  a  fortification,  the 
outlines  of  which  are  yet  to  be  seen,  on  Six  Town 
Point  in  the  tovvn  of  Henderson,  Jefferson  County. 
With  the  exception  of  Fort  Frontenac,  this  was  the 
only  fort  ever  built  by  the  French  in  this  vicinity. 
The  sketches  are  by  the  writer,  both  plan,  and  eleva- 
tion ;  but  he  is  indebted  to  Dr.  Hough,  for  tlie  descrip- 
tive text. 

"In  1756,  considerable  bodies  of  troops  were  sent 
from  France,  ard  in  May,  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm^ 
Gen.  Bourlamaque,  two  engineers,  and  an  army  oi 
1,350  regulars,  1,5^0  Canadians,  and  250  Indians 
ascended  the  river  to  Fort  Frontenac,  [Kingston]  and 
M,  de  Villers*,  with  500  men  established  a  Post  of 
Observation  on  Six  Town  Point,  in  the  present  town 
of  Henderson,  Jefferson  County,  the  outlines  of 
whicli  may  be  still  plainly  traced.  It  was  square, 
built  of  upright  timbers,  bastioned  at  the  corners, 
and  almost  hidden  from  view  by  surrounding  trees 
and  bushes.    At  that  period  it  was  an  important  Post." 


*  [M  (le  Villers,  vf&B  a  distiuguished  captain  in  the  French  Marine  ser- 
Tice.— Ed.] 


OLD    FRENCH    FORT. 


117 


The  writer  visited  the  locality  some  years  ago,  and 
although  quite  large  trees  now  cover  the  area  once 
occupied  by  the  fortification,  its  outlines  are  yet  dis- 
tinctly visible;  and  although  our  knowledge  regard- 


11 8  MORE    OLr»    LETTERS. 

ing  it  is  very  limited,  it  is  on^  of  the  few  remaining 
evidences  of  a  most  interesting  period  in  our  early 
history.^ 

*  During  1774-5  it  is  ascertained  that  there  were  two  small 
vessels  built  at  Carleton  Island, — the  sloops  Charity  and  Cald- 
Well,*  each  carrying  a  small  armament  but  employed  principally 
in  conveying  goods  and  military  stores  from  the  island  to  Niagara^ 
Both  these  vessels  were  made  use  of  by  St.  Leger,  in  transport- 
ing his  troops  and  supplies  from  the  island  to  Oswego,  during 
his  advance  on  Fort  Stanwix. 

Later  the  Ontario,  Haldimand,  Missisauga,  and  several  others 
were  built,  together  with  several  gunboats  the  names  of  which  are 
not  known.  The  Ontario,  Haldimand,  and  Mississauga,  were 
heavily  armed,  and  served  the  purpose  of  vessels  of  war,  as  welt 
as  commercial  craft. 

Th^  wrecks  of  two  moderately  sized  hulks  are  still  to  be  seen 
in  North  Bay,  Carleton  Island,  when  the  water  is  still,  which  are 
supposed  to  have  formed  a  part  of  the  fleet  constructed  there  ;  and 
there  is  but  little  doubt  that  this  is  the  case,  from  the  fact  that  the 
early  settlers  along  the  St.  Lawrence  observed  them,  previous  to- 
the  war  of  1812. — En.] 

•  To  give  a  clearer  appreciation  of  that  period  in  our  early 
history  when  the  French  fort  and  stockade  on  Six  Town  Point 
was  built,  it  is  only  necessary  for  the  student  of  American  History 
to  recall  the  fact  that  it  was  built  only  two  years  later  than  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  and  the  building  of  Fort  Necessity  by  George 
Washington,  and  his  handful  of  Virginians. 

Since  the  above  paragraph  was  penned,  the  writer  has  ascer- 
tained beyond  a  doubt  that   Sieur  de  Villiers,    the   officer   who^ 


*  [By  some  writers  called  the  "  Colville."] 


NOTES    AND    COMMENTS. 


119 


built  the  stockade  ihcre  mentioned,  was  the  identical  officer  to 
whom  George  Washington,  then  ;i  Colonel  of  Virginia  militia, 
surrendered  Fort  Necessitv  scarcely  two   years  previous. — Ed.] 

"  The  "Mr.  Macomb"  here  mertioned,  was,  in  all  probability, 
the  Alexander  Macomb,  who  in  afiei  years  made  the  great  pur- 
chase of  lands  from  the  Land  Commissioners  of  New  York.  The 
tract  embraced  the  greater  part  of  Franklin,  nearly  the  whole  of 
St.  Lawrence,  the  whole  of  Jeflerson  and  Lewis,  and  a  part  of 
Oswego  counties,  including  all  the  islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
fronting  the  purchase,  except  Carleton,  and  Long  Sault.  Tlie 
whole  was  estimated  to  contain  3,670,715  acres,  and  was  known 
as  the  "  Macomb  Purchase." 

Macomb's  application  to  purchase  this  tract,  was  made  in 
1791  ;  previous  to  that  time,  he  had  been  a  fur  trader  at  Detroit, 
and  it  was  while  engaged  in  that  occupation,  that  he  had  his 
"silver  works"  stolen  at  Carleton  Island.  Afterward  he  became 
a  prosperojis  and  wealthy  merchant  in  New  York  but  was  finally 
ruined  by  speculation, — Ed.]  , 


CHAPTER    VII. 


CARLETON  ISLAND  IN   182I-22.       ITS  INDUSTRIES   AT 

THAT  TIME.       CARLETON  ISLAND    NOW    AND    ITS 

PROSPECTS  FOR  THE  FUTURE.     CONCLUSION. 


S  elsewhere  observed,  the  State  of  New  York, 
^^s::^;^  in  its  cession  to  Macomb,  reserved  Carleton 
Island.  This  was  on  account  of  its  supposed  impor- 
tance as  a  military  point;  and,  indeed,  it  would  seem 
that  the  idea  clung  with  some  pertinacity  to  the  mil- 
itary brain  of  the  government  even  down  to  the  days 
of  the  Rebellion  ;  for  it  is  a  fact, — though  not  gener- 
ally known,  perhaps, — that  a  couple  of  prominent 
erifgineer  officers  of  the  army  visited  the  island  in 
1864,  to  report  upon  its  fitness  as  a  basis  for  military 
and  naval  operations.  Thus  far,  at  least,  did  the  his- 
tory of  a  century  repeat  itself,  the  material  difference 
however,  lying  in  the  fact  that  the  officers  sent  by 
Gen.  Haldimand,  made  choice  ot  the  locality,  and 
those  sent  by  the  miltary  authorities  of  the  United 

States  reported  adversely. 

(120) 


PROPRIETORS   OF    THE    ISLAND.  12  1 

Tlie  Qrst  Step  toward  the  acquirement  of  any  realty 
on  Carleton  Island,  was  the  issue  of  a  bounty,  or 
class  right  for  military  services,  to  Wm.  Richardson  ; 
a  sergeant  in  the  New  York  line  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. Two  men,  Matthew  Watson  and  Wm.  Guil- 
land  became  the  purchasers  of  this  right,  and  located 
it  on  Carleton  Island,  Oct.  2,  1786.  Watson  pur- 
chased Guilland's  right,  and  at  his  death  he  left  three 
children,  John,  Margaret  and  Jane.  John  and  Jane 
died  leaving  no  issue,  and  Margaret  became  the 
owner.  She  married  one  Jacob  Ten  Broeck,  and 
these  sold  their  right  to  one  Charles  Smyth,  who 
finally  applied  to  the  legislature  to  have  his  claim 
located,  and  also  applied  for  the  purchase  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  island.  Smyth  sold  to  Abijah  Mann, 
and  on  March  2,  182 1,  an  act  was  passed,  directing 
a  patent  to  be  issued  for  500  acres  from  the  west  end 
of  the  island  On  the  22dofMay,  1848,  Abijah  Mann 
deeded  the  500  acres  above  mentioned  to  Charles 
Isadore  Pluche,  from  whom  Col.  S.  B.  Hance,  of 
Cape  Vincent,  derived  his  title.  Col.  Hance  having 
disposed  of  a  half  interest  in  the  lands  to  Henry 
Folger,  Esq.,  of  Kingston,  they  are  now  joint  owners 
in  the  tract.     But  of  this  more  hereafter. 

Squatters  early  located  on  the  island,  and  when 
Col.  Hassler  surveyed  it  in  1823  many  persons  had 
become  residents  and  a  large  amount  of  business  was 


122  PAST,    PRESENT,    AND    FUTURE. 

■  done.  At  this  time,  there  was  a  plat  of  land  on  the 
east  shore  containing  about  thirty  acres,  of  old  im- 
proved soil,  known  then  as  to-day,  by  tlie  name  of 
the  "  King's  Garden,"  Here  instead  of  on  the  penin- 
sula at  the  head  of  the  island,  as  Hough  intimates, 
is  most  likely  the  place  where  "vegetables  were 
grown  for  the  use  of  the  garrison."  In  1821,  Avery 
Smith,  a  Canadian  began  lumbering  here,  and  busi- 
ness grew  so  rapidly  that  in  a  very  short  time  the 
population  had  increased  to  nearly  two  hundred 
souls.  In  1823,  there  was  here  a  school,  and  post- 
office;  and  James  Estes  kept  a  "tavern."  In  the 
fort,  dwellings  had  been  built  to  the  old  chimney 
stacks  from  whence  the  barracks  had  been  burned. 
The  teacher  was  Prof.  Shumway,  who  also  filled  the 
otlice  of  justice  of  the  peace.  David  Briggs  kept  a 
shoe-shop,  and  Abijah  Lewis,  James  Wood,  and  a  Mr. 
Shaw  were  merchants,  so  that  it  would  seem  from  the 
chronicles  of  those  days,  that  Carleton  Island  sus- 
tained a  busy  and  Nourishing  settlement,  which  un- 
doubtedly declined  with  the  lumbering  interests,  and 
the  growing  importance  of  the  adjacent  village  of 
Cape  Vincent. 

It  is  highly  probable,  too,  that  during  this- period 
of  Island  prosperity  the  remains  of  the  Old  Fort 
suffered  their  5.  leatest  spoliation.  The  ravelins  were 
demolished  to  make  room  for  cottage  dv^or-yards,  the 


SPOLIATION    OF    THE    REMAINS.  1  23 

cheveaux  de  frizc  was  cut  away  for  fence  posts  and  fire- 
wood, loads  of  stone  from  parapet  and  glacis  were 
taken  away  for  various  purposes,  the  great  well  be- 
came a  receptacle  for  all  manner  of  rubbish  until 
now  it  is  nearly  filled.  One  by  one  the  ciiim- 
nevs  have  crumbled  and  fallen  or  have  been  over- 
thrown  in  mere  wantonness  until  but  few  remain 
standing.  The  moat,  carved  deep  in  the  Trenton 
limestone  is  as  perfect  as  when  the  laborers  under 
the  direction  of  Lieut.  Twiss  had  completed  their 
arduous  task  of  quarrying  the  stone  therefrom.  It  is 
hoped  that  some  steps  will  be  taken  to  restore  the 
best  of  the  remaining  chimneys,  and  rebuild  the  par- 
apet where  it  is  crumbled, — both  tasks  easy  of  ac- 
complishment,— and  thus  preserve  the  most  notable 
landmark  of  Northern  New  York. 

For  many  years,  the  Thousand  Islands,  of  tne  St, 
Lawrence  river  were  the  favorite  resort  of  a  few 
people  wlio  thoroughly  appreciated  them,  for  the 
purposes  of  fishing  aud  hunting,  and  for  general 
recreation.  Gradually  it  dawned  upon  the  sportsmen 
of  the  city,  the  seeker  after  rest,  recreation,  and 
health,  the  tourist  and  traveller,  that  tlrese  islands 
afforded  in  a  superlative  degree,  all  necessary  adjuncts 
and  environments  that  nature  could  supply,  to  equip 
one  of  the  great  watering  places  of  the  world,  and 
that  idea  once  rooted,  has  been  constantly  increasing 


124  PAST,    PRESENT,    AND    FUTURE. 

in  growth  for  more  than  a  decade,  and  though  it  has 
reached  grand  proportions,  it  has  but  begun. 

At  first,  as  was  natural  enough,  the  rush  was  toward 
the  centre  of  the  great  river  Archipelago,  and  islands 
were  purchased,  cottages  built  and  in  some  instances 
palaces;  great  hotels  sprang  up  as  if  by  magic, 
societies,  companies,  and  corporations  purchased  and 
laid  out  extensive  grounds,  hamlets,  and  villages,  and 
cities  almo'fet,  of  summer  residences  grew  up;  and 
to-day  the  islands  in  the  American  channel  at  least, 
are  simply  a  gorgeous  panorama  of  camp  and  cottage  ; 
and  the  quiet  restful  vacation  so  attractive  to  the 
careworn  man  of  business,  is  no  longer  to  be  had  in 
the  busy  marts  of  island  resort. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  ere  the  superior  advan- 
tages of  Carleton  island  as  a  place  of  r*esort  became 
apparent  to  thoughtful  observant  men,  whose  real 
object  was  health,  rest,  and  recreation,  and  of  success- 
ful angling  for  the  gamy  bass,  the  pickerel  and  the 
muscallonge.  These  advantages,  although  but  slowly 
making  their  impress  upon  the  public  mind, — though 
surely  and  firmly — are  evident  to  the  most  casual 
observer,  who  will  bestow  a  few  moments  thought 
upon  the  subject. 

Situated  in  the  centre  of  the  American  channel, 
with  a  broad  reach  of  navigable  water  on  either  hand, 
deep,  pure,  and  clear  as  crystal  itself,  and  fresh  from 


CLUB    HOUS?:S    ON    THE    ISLAND.  1 25 

the  great  basin  of  Lake  Ontario,  bringing  cool,  brac- 
ing breezes,  full  of  vitality,  life-giving,  free  from 
malaria  of  every  description,  as  a  place  where  good 
health  may  be  regained  and  retained,  it  has  no 
superior.  Easy  of  access,  b)-  steamer,  connecting 
with  railway  lines  to  every  part  of  the  country 
\i^ether  in  the  United  States  or  the  Dominion,  only 
three  miles  from  the  railway  station  at  Cape  Vincent, 
and  within  easy  reach  of  Kingston,  Out.,  there  to 
meet  the  great  steamboat  lines  and  the  Grand  Trunk 
and  Pembroke  railways,  daily  communication  with 
every  portion  of  the  Thousand  Islands  and  the  great  f 
Parks,  and  literally  surrounded  on  every  hand  by  the 
finest  fishing  grounds  on  the  river,  this  is  indeed  a 
most  desirable  location. 

At  least  this  is  what  a  large  party  of  Utican's  tliink, 
who  becoming  enamored  of  the  locality  made  a  pur- 
chase of  a  plat  of  ground,  and  organized  themselves 
into  the  "  Carleton  Island  Club."  This  was  in  1S70; 
and  three  years  later  they  bought  additional  grounds, 
and  now  possess  a  most  delightful,  as  well  as  valuable 
property.  The  "Navasink  Club"  of  Ithaca,  pur- 
chased grounds  here  in  1872,  and  subsquently  sold  to 
Mr.  Jas.  T.  Morrison  of  Ithaca,  who  still  retains  the 
premises.  In  1876,  Williams  Bros,  of  Borne,  pur- 
chased lots,  and  have  erected  tine  cottages,  and  the 
same  year  E.  M.  Knight  of  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  pur- 
chased a  lot,  and  so  also  did  Hon.  C.  M.  Dennison. 


126  PAST,    PRESENT,    AND    FUTURE. 

All  these  have  elegant  cottages  which  together 
with  the  club  houses,  present  decidedly  a  '^settled  " 
appearance.  These  are  all  located  on  the  peninsula 
at  the  head  of  the  island,  and  other  cottages  will  soon 
be  erected  there. 

Immediately  adjoining  the  ruins  of  the  Old  Fort, 
and  lying  in  a  belt  across  ^he  island  from  one  shore 
to  the  other,  a  plat  of  ground  embracing  nearly  or 
quite  one  hundred  acres  has  been  surveyed  and 
mapped  for  Messrs.  Folger  &  Ilance.  This  area  is 
traversed  by  ample  streets  and  broad  avenues,  and  is 
subdivided  into  spacious  lots. 

Some  of  the  finest  situations,  all  things  considered, 
to  be  had  anywhere  throughout  the  whole  extent  of 
the  Thousand  Island  group  are  to  be  found  here  ;  and 
the  rapidity  with  which  lots  are  being  called  feu-  and 
selected  argues  well  for  the  future  of  Carleton  Island. 
Indeed,  there  is  no  more  desirable  place  for  a  summer 
residence  to  be  found.  The  adjacent  farms  will 
always  furnish  in  abundance  every  variety  of  their 
productions  for  the  table,  while  tlie  choicest  fish  are 
had  for  the  catching. 

The  cool  breezes  from  the  lake,  the  purity  of  tlie 
surrounding  atmosphere  and  the  absence  of  marshes 
and  stagnant  water,  are  highly  unfavorable  to  insect 
growth,  and  in  consequence  the  musquito  pest  is 
unknown. 


FUTURE    OF    CARLETON    ISLAND.  I27 

It  is  not  hard  to  predict  the  future  of  Carleton 
Island.  In  a  short  time  an  elegant  hotel  will  grace 
one  of  the  most  delightful  sites  on  the  river,  and 
cottages  will  spring  up  everywhere.  '  The  great 
passenger  steamers  will  make  daily  trips  to  its 
wharves,  and  where  now  is  but  a  succession  of  grove 
and  field,  will  stand  a  succession  of  summer  resi- 
dences. 

The  island  cottager  will  look  at  the  ruins  of  Old 
Fort  Haldimand  and  think,  perchance,  of  the  wonder- 
ful contrast  which  the  years  have  brought  about. 
The  Indian  warrior  encamps  here  no  more.  No 
longer  are  the  groves  of  the  island  made  hideous  by 
the  war-whoop  as  the  war-songs  are  chanted  and  the 
scalp-dance  indulged  In.  No  longer  do  tliey  pre- 
pare for  a  raid  on  Stanwix  or  Wyoming,  Cherry  Val- 
ley or  Fort  Edward.  Some  of  those  who  once  graced 
this  island  with  their  presence,  gained  "high  places" 
of  honor  and  renown  in  army  and  navy,  and  their 
names  live  after  them  ;  but  they  never  once  dreamed 
of  the  Thousand  Islands  of  to-day,  much  less  of  the 
Carleton  Island  as  it  is  ere  long,  to  be. 

Reader,  our  brief,  and  by  no  means  unpleasant 
task  is  finished,  and  the  writer  hopes  that  you  may 
have  gathered  up  a  few  grains  of  interest,  and  whiled 
away  an  hour  or  two  with  sufficient  profit  and  satis- 


128 


PAST,    PRESKNT.    AND     FUTURE. 


faction    to  redeem  them  from  the  cliarge   of    being 
wholly  lost. 


oxy<iH 


Cloth   Pricf  $1.35.     Out  of  print,  and  only  a  few  shop-worn  copies  left. 
C.    W.   BAKDEKN,   Piibllslicr,   Syracuse,   N.  Y. 


tacA  .aMi./tt'^ 


